Do non PCB ballasts have to be recycled?
Do non PCB ballasts have to be recycled?
According to EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulations, the material must be incinerated. The entire lighting fixture does not need special handling and disposal as long as the ballast (electrical box) is not leaking. The non-leaking ballasts can be removed and recycled or disposed of properly.
What is non PCB ballast?
Non PCB Light Ballast If the label reads “contains no PCBs” or “no PCBs” it is a non PCB ballast. If that phrase is not located on the label, you must assume the ballast to be the PCB type. Contact the UB EHS Hazardous Waste Manager if assistance is required to properly identify a type of ballast.
Do all magnetic ballasts have PCBs?
Ballasts manufactured through 1979 may contain PCBs. Ballasts manufactured between 1979 and 1998 that do not contain PCBs are labeled “No PCBs” If a ballast is not labeled “No PCBs”, it is best to assume it contains PCBs.
Does my ballast contain PCBs?
Electronic ballasts do not contain PCBs or any other hazardous materials. Magnetic ballasts, on the other hand, are outdated technology and commonly contain PCBs. Check the ballast’s manufacturing date. If you know the ballast was installed or manufactured before 1978, it most likely contains PCBs.
Are non PCB ballasts universal waste?
If ballast cannot be positively identified as non-PCB, it should be considered PCB. These ballasts are considered hazardous waste and must be packaged, marked and shipped (manifested) in compliance with applicable TSCA hazardous waste regulations.
When were PCB ballasts banned?
1976
EPA recommends that school administrators and building owners consider removing and replacing HID ballasts that contain PCBs. In 1976, Congress banned PCB manufacturing in the United States due to their toxic effects.
How do I know if a ballast has PCBs?
To find out if your GE Lighting ballast contains PCBs, look for the two-letter date code that’s stamped into the mounting feet at one end of the fluorescent ballast, and then check the chart below to find the month and year of manufacture. Ballasts manufactured after January 1, 1979, do not contain PCBs.
What goes bad in a light ballast?
Heat and moisture are enemies #1 and #2 to your ballast. Every ballast has an ambient operating temperature range and UL location rating. When it’s too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all. Heat combined with prolonged condensation inside an electronic ballast can cause corrosion.
Are old light ballast worth anything?
Ballasts Historical Scrap Prices. A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably – for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.
What states have adopted aerosol cans as Universal Waste?
Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania have adopted the EPA Final Rule. California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, and Utah had aerosol cans listed as Universal Waste prior to the Federal Final Rule.
Can you recycle PCB ballasts?
“No PCBs” ballasts can be disposed with normal trash in most states. Ballasts that have PCBs are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Toxic Substance Control Act ( TSCA ).
Where to recycle ballasts?
Look for a drop box near the main entrance or customer service desk. Batteries+Bulbs retail stores will accept and recycle all types of bulbs and ballasts, including fluorescent tubes.
How do you dispose of light ballast?
Just like CFL light bulbs, universal waste regulations require proper disposal of lamps and ballasts through either recycling or hazardous waste landfills. This is important because lamps and certain ballasts contain hazardous materials, such as mercury, which can contaminate the environment and is harmful to human health.
Are light ballasts hazardous waste?
Due to the potential health hazards associated with light ballasts they are managed as potentially hazardous waste . Ballasts shall only be removed from lighting equipment by trained Facilities Services employees.