Waste » Residential » Construction/Demolition » PCB
If you believe your household material contains PCBs (or you're just not sure), contact the Recycling Hotline at 509-477-6800, Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Your options for disposal will be different depending on the material. The Recycling Hotline will help you dispose of the material properly.
Do not dispose of PCB-containing material in regular trash or down the drain or storm drain!
PCBs can be found in everyday products like paint, printing inks, clothing pigments and dyes, pesticides, old fluorescent light ballasts, lubricants and hydraulic fluids.
PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) oil was used to insulate heavy-duty appliance capacitors and fluorescent light ballasts until 1978. Repeated exposure to PCB - or perhaps the dibenzofurans with which it is usually contaminated can cause illness. Anything containing PCB's should be handled as hazardous waste. Residents can drop it off the Household Hazardous Waste sites.
It is important to manage the removal in a way that minimizes workers' exposure to the PCBs (e.g., facemasks, gloves, etc.) and prevents the release of PCBs into the environment
Disposal of federally regulated PCB wastes must follow EPA's regulations found in 40 CFR part 761:
- No person may open burn PCBs.
- No person may process liquid PCBs into a non-liquid form in order to circumvent high temperature incineration requirements for liquid PCBs.
- No person may discharge water with 3 micrograms per liter (3 parts per billion) or more of PCBs unless they have a (NPDES) permit under the Clean Water Act.
- Spills and uncontrolled discharges are considered to be disposal.
Read the labels for paints, lubricants and hydraulic fluids, pesticides, pigments and printing inks and choose PCB free products.
- Be a consumer advocate for plain packaging that uses less ink since a lot of common packaging contains PCBs due to inks and dyes.
- Don’t rinse chemicals, solvents, oil, paints, etc. down your home drains or stormwater drains. “Only rain down the storm drain.”
- Be aware of fish consumption advisories since PCBs can bio-accumulate in them. Clean fish removing fatty tissue and or allow it to drip away when grilling/cooking fish.
Fish caught in the Spokane River may contain heavy metals and PCBs. Read and follow the suggestions offered in the Department of Health "Safe Fish Eating Guide" since PCBs can bio-accumulate in fatty tissue.
PCBs are regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which became law in 1976. TSCA bans the manufacture, processing, use and distribution in commerce of PCBs, and gives EPA the authority to regulate the use, manufacture, cleanup, storage, and disposal of PCBs.
The current PCB regulations were published pursuant to this Act, and can be found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR Part 761).
City of Spokane Integrated Clean Water Plan - PCBs The City of Spokane is working to improve the health of the Spokane River and reduce the amount of pollution that enters it. One important pollutant of concern for the City is PCBs.
Spokane County Water Resources Spokane County has developed a resource page on PCBs here which includes downloadable summaries and handouts, including the PCB Challenge - Download the poster.
Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force The Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force (SRRTTF) leads efforts to find and reduce toxic compounds in the Spokane River. The goal of the task force is to develop a comprehensive plan to bring the Spokane River into compliance with water quality standards for PCBs.
Washington State Department of Ecology PCB Chemical Action Plan Overview
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency information, policy & guidance, disposal and storage
Dangerous Colors and the Poisoning of the Spokane River
by Don Fels Saturday, October 10, 2015 Crosscut
What will it take to clean up a poisoned river?
by Don Fels, Sunday October 11, 2015 Crosscut
