CLA-2-84:S:N:N1:103 877661
Mr. Keith E. Homstad
Recyclights
2010 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55413
RE: The tariff classification of recycling equipment from Sweden
Dear Mr. Homstad:
In your letter dated August 24, 1992 you requested a tariff
classification ruling.
Your firm intends to import three components which form a
unique closed system for recycling mercury from used fluorescent
lights and other mercury containing waste items. According to
your letter, mercury waste is highly poisonous and
environmentally harmful, and EPA regulations prohibit the
disposal of mercury containing lights in landfills. The three
machines you will import are:
1. Crush and sieve unit - this unit receives used
fluorescent tubes and crushes them under low pressure so no
mercury vapors can escape. After the tube is crushed, this
machine separates the components into clean glass, clean metal
end caps, and mercury contaminated fluorescent powder. The glass
and end caps are then resold by your firm to glass and metal
recyclers.
2. H.I.D. lamp crusher - this machine is a specialized
crusher for street lamps and high intensity discharge lamps. It
is smaller than the crush and sieve unit but operates on the same
principles.
3. Distiller unit - this unit receives the mercury
contaminated fluorescent powder and, by means of a patented
process involving heat, pressure, and vacuum, removes 99.987
percent of the mercury. The powder is converted into a compound
that is mainly limestone for use as a soil "sweetener" in
landfills to balance the soil pH. The recovered mercury is
99.998 percent pure and is sold to a mercury recycling company
for reuse in various products.
According to your inquiry, the initial importation will consist
only of the distiller unit. The other two machines will be
imported in a subsequent shipment or shipments.
The applicable subheading for the crush and sieve unit, as
well as the H.I.D. lamp crusher, will be 8479.82.0080, HTS, which
provides for machines and mechanical appliances having individual
functions, not specified or included elsewhere...: other machines
and mechanical appliances: mixing, kneading, crushing, grinding,
screening, sifting, homogenizing, emulsifying or stirring
machines: other. The rate of duty will be 3.7 percent ad
valorem.
The applicable subheading for the distiller unit, imported
separately, will be 8419.40.0080, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTS), which provides for machinery, plant or
laboratory equipment, whether or not electrically heated, for the
treatment of materials by a process involving a change of
temperature...: distilling or rectifying plant: other. The rate
of duty will be 4.2 percent ad valorem.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Section
177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of this ruling letter should be attached to the entry
documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If the
documents have been filed without a copy, this ruling should be
brought to the attention of the Customs officer handling the
transaction.
Sincerely,
Jean F. Maguire
Area Director
New York Seaport