Recycling PCB ballasts eliminates liability, risk

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Hazmat World; (United States)

OSTI ID:7045674

Energy efficiency, participation in EPA's Green Lights program, pollution prevention, improved lighting quality, tax breaks and reduced liability are only some of the incentives for retrofitting lighting systems and removing PCB ballasts. Companies implementing retrofit projects might consider disposing pre-1979 ballasts, which contain PCBs, at the same time. The combination of incineration and recycling removes and destroys PCB-containing material from lighting ballasts, and preserves the remainder for recycling. This method is up to 50 percent less expensive than incinerating entire ballasts, and generates much less metal ash and air pollution. More than 80 percent of each ballast, by weight, is composed of solid, recyclable material, including copper wire and steel laminations. Only one-half to three-quarters of a pound of material must be incinerated.

• OSTI ID: 7045674
• Journal Information: Hazmat World; (United States), Journal Name: Hazmat World; (United States) Vol. 7:5; ISSN HMWOED; ISSN 0898-5685
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AROMATICS
BALLASTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
COMBUSTION
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
PROCESSING
RECYCLING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING