Fluorescent Lighting Ballast are Regulated
Do Not Throw In The Trash
 

• In the Preamble to the 1982 PCB regulations the U.S. EPA authorized the disposal of fluorescent light ballasts in a municipal landfill under the disposal exemption granted in 40 CFR 761.60.
  However, the mega rule which was promulgated on June 29, 1998 and became effective on August 28, 1998 has changed that exemption.

• According to data submitted in the TSCA Section 21 petition, ballasts manufactured prior to July 1978, have a better than 50% chance of containing PCBs at 50 ppm or greater in their potting material. (Federal Register Vol. No. 124 page 35404.)  U.S. EPA is asking that anyone who seeks to dispose of fluorescent light ballasts in a municipal landfill to “assume that the potting material contains PCBs at 50 ppm or greater and dispose of them as PCB waste.”

• EPSI removes the PCB-containing materials (i.e., the capacitor and asphalt potting material surrounding the capacitor) for incineration or land disposal.  Metals, such as copper and steel, are reclaimed from the ballasts for use in manufacturing other products.  NON-PCB ballasts may be recycled also.