Ballast – PCB & Non-PCB
Fluorescent light ballasts manufactured prior to 1979 contain Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are an excellent insulator that doesn’t burn, which is why they were used. Those same characteristics are what cause PCBs to be considered hazardous. They do not readily break down when released into the environment. This substance is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The primary concern regarding the disposal of used fluorescent ballasts is the health risk associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Human exposure to these possible carcinogens can cause skin, liver, and reproductive disorders. Following a regulatory ban on PCB in 1979, a less hazardous chemical, DEHP, was integrated.
What we recycle includes (but is not limited to):
- PCB-containing lamp ballast
- Non-PCB containing lamp ballast
- Solid state lamp ballast
