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Up through the early 1900's, it was common practice to use lead pipes for interior plumbing. Also, lead piping was often used for the service connections that join residences to public water supplies. Plumbing installed before 1930 is the most likely to contain lead.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Section 1417(a)(1) required that after June 19, 1986 only "lead free" pipe, solder or flux could be used in the installation or repair of (1) Public Water Systems, or (2) any plumbing in residential or non-residential facility providing water for human consumption, which is connected to a Public Water System.
The law prohibits any person from introducing into commerce any pipe, or plumbing fitting or fixture that is not lead free after August 6, 1998, except for a pipe that is used in manufacturing or industrial processing. See Banned Lead Products for more information.
Remove pipe before renovation or demolition, or separate it from the demolition waste pile and it can be recycled as scrap metal. Lead pipe and solder probably designate as dangerous waste if not recycled.
Copper pipes have replaced lead pipes in most residential plumbing. However, the use of lead solder with copper pipes is widespread.
Brass, bronze or other alloy fixtures or fittings; and pipes, traps and other extruded lead products for construction, storage tanks and process vessels also contain lead in varying amounts. Refer to the Lead in Drinking Water subsection of the Non-occupational Sources of Lead Poisoning page for more information about lead leaching from fixtures. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates between 10 and 20 percent of total lead exposures in young children are from drinking water.
Lead pipe or metal fillings would meet the definition of "Scrap Metal" in WAC 173-303-040. Scrap metal is excluded from the Hazardous Waste Regulations under WAC 173-303-071 (3) (ff), "Scrap Metal". There are no Hazardous Waste Program requirements for scrap metal management.