Does anyone know WTF to do with PCB-containing capacitors?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 03:40:38 am
content: I rang the EPA. I had to spell it out for them........ polychlorinated biphenyl."Is that a hazardous substance""Yes, it is carcinogenic and an accumulative environmental pollutant. You're not supposed to throw them (the capacitors) into the bin""OK, can we get back to you?"I eventually get a phone call back from some guy who has no idea about what PCB's or capacitors are, but just plucks a few waste disposal companies phone numbers out of the phone book and recommends Veolia in particular as they do pickups. Like I couldn't have done that myself! Duh! In fact I already had - a complete waste of time - if the electronic waste isn't computer or DVD player related they haven't got a clue and will reject the items when I explain to them what it contains.However I hadn't yet rang Veolia at that stage, so I gave them a try. Still no clue about what PCB's or capacitors are but they inform me that they could likely pick it up for $400, but recommend instead that I drop it off to another disposal company called IWS (integrated waste management) for a much smaller fee. "OK, thanks". So I ring IWS. "Peeee Ceeeee Beeeeesssss.........". Still no idea what I am talking about but when I mention the hazardous nature of the substance I get the response "oh, no, we are not licensed to handle hazardous chemicals of that nature, I recommend you contact Veolia".Arrggghh! So I mention that it was Veolia who put me onto them. The lady on the phone says words to the effect that that was rather daft of Veolia and recommends I contact the EPA instead. but "it was the EPA who put me onto Veolia!" "Oh, sorry, I really don't know what else to recommend in that case".So, I get back on the blower to Veolia, as they had previously informed me that they could perhaps pick the waste up. Well, I get the same lady on the phone who I had previously spoken to, who had put me onto IWS. I explain why I am back on the phone with her. "Oh" she exclaims, "that isn't any good as IWS is where we dispose of the items after picking them up from you". For a f%$#ing exorbitant fee I might add!Having reached a dead end at that point she takes my name and phone number with the promise that her manager will ring me back with a possible solution to my dilemma. That was several days ago now, still no phone call.So where the hell do I go from here?

author: Strada916
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 03:59:12 am
content: And these numb nuts keep telling us not to dump PCB into landfill. I'ld call your local council and take it to there recycling centre if they have one. Do you actually have a lot, like tonnes or a few kilos?

author: Strada916
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 04:06:31 am
content: http://www.toxfree.com.auA quick google yielded this company.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 04:11:42 am
content: A car boot full. Council E-waste collection covers domestic appliances and computers, not a palette of heavy grey rectangular things full of a nasty chemical. It is quite possible that one or more of the waste disposal companies I have contacted are in fact licensed to dispose of PCB's, but I just can't get anyone on the phone who has the slightest idea what I am talking about or apparently has even the basic means to look it up.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 04:14:11 am
content: I'd agree about local councils.Strangely enough, they are pretty "switched on" over hazardous waste,so will probably take it off your hands.Another way is to contact somebody technical at a local TV or Radio station--they may have a preferred contractor for getting rid of such stuff.They may just let you drop the caps into a drum at their place,if they have one set up for such things.Of course,they may have cleaned out all of them years ago.Finally,are you sure the cap contains PCBs?--------Not all oil filled capacitors do.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 04:17:30 am
content: Quote from: Strada916 on June 09, 2013, 04:06:31 am"Toxfree manages the treatment of a broad range of Chemical and Hazardous wastes"I had somehow missed that one. Looks promising and they have a depot close to work. I'll give 'em a try first thing Tuesday. Good Googling.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 04:20:41 am
content: We have a company that picks up once we fill the bins. I don't have their name on me now, but I can look it up on Tue. Mon=Queens b/dayI fill it up with everything from batteries to PCBs etc and they even had someone take the MEK off us.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 04:24:39 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on June 09, 2013, 04:14:11 amYup.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 04:33:47 am
content: Quote from: digsys on June 09, 2013, 04:20:41 amOK, thanks. That would be great if they have a depot in Adelaide.I still find it amazing that the EPA doesn't have the means to put me directly onto a disposal company licensed to dispose of specifically PCB's. You would think that kind of information would be maintained on some kind of register.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 06:06:25 am
content: Drop it in the Ewaste bin, and it will go off to China and get recycled. Otherwise ask your local electrical wholesalers who they use for old PCB containing ballasts, as they should have the number. GE and Sylvania amongst others made them as part of lighting ballasts till the early 1980's, and as they typically last 40 years they are still around in large numbers.I guess these are part of a large capacitor bank for a laser or a spot welder.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 06:35:35 am
content: Oh it is clear to me thus far that I could have gotten rid of these already if I just played the ignoramus and just called the collection "general electrical junk". However I figured that it would be preferable to dispose of it through a company that actually knows what they are dealing with and will still accept it when I point out to them what it is.I've got a hefty stash of my own from my radio transmitters and we have an ancient pile at work that has been sitting in storage for longer than anyone currently employed there has been working in the building. No idea what they were used for once upon a time.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 07:21:17 am
content: So they are either transmitter caps or power factor correction units. Ask your local power company ( do not call the front office call the stores or the line maintenance team) as they will have pulled these out of service as they aged out.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2013, 05:43:04 am
content: Got a quote from Toxfree. $44.3 per kilo plus pick up. Glad I'm not paying for it. Dunno exactly what to do with my own stash though; that would cost me a few grand.Think I'll try my luck at the next freebie hazardous waste collection by the council.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2013, 06:35:04 am
content: Some cities here in the USA do electronic waste pick up day a couple times a year where they come and take stuff off the curb. That is a great day to be a dumpster diver! There are also mobile electronic waste trucks I see around, and I know of one permanent site where you can drop toxic stuff like paint and batteries and old oil whenever you want. I actually always shed a tear when I see those trucks full of old dead PCs driving around. They were all so young. I hope they enjoy going home to China.This kind of reminds me of a story I read somewhere where a woman broke a florescent light bulb on her carpet and got charged like thousands of dollars by some toxic clean up company because of the mercury. If you follow the "official" disposal methods you better care about the environment more than you care about being able to pay rent for the next couple months.

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2013, 07:14:04 pm
content: I have dropped off hazardous electronic wastes including PCB capacitors, mercury vacuum tubes, beryllium oxide ceramics, etc. at a twice yearly "household hazardous waste collection day" that my county runs. Really intended for more "normal" household hazmat like paint, insecticides, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, etc., but I have never been turned away with the weird stuff in small quantities. All you need to drop stuff off is proof of county residency, and sign a statement that you aren't disposing of waste from a business (who would need to hire their own disposal contractor).

author: SLJ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2013, 08:04:08 pm
content: Quote from: N2IXK on June 11, 2013, 07:14:04 pmSame here, but we have one just for electronics twice a year usually Spring and Fall. This Spring we had two on the same day at the same time just 4 miles from each other.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2013, 03:08:43 pm
content: go to your nearest local park that has a waste bin, dump in the bin and forget about it.

author: lemmegraphdat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2013, 05:34:14 pm
content: Around here we would use a nice cleansing fire.

author: ignator
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2013, 06:05:35 pm
content: eBay auction listingRARE VINTAGE PCB CAPACITORS L@@K 1 cubic meter lotsNo reserve. Buyer pays handling fee and actual shipping.add whatever normal babble you need.Sorry, I know your trying to be ECO smart. Good luck.I'm surprised no one asked what capacitance and voltage these are.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2013, 06:53:47 am
content: So you rang the US EPA or does Australia call their equivalent agency the same thing as we do?

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2013, 07:03:37 am
content: Found this:QuoteHere:http://www.scew.gov.au/archive/anzecc/pubs/anzecc_gl__identification_of_pcb_containing_capacitors_information_booklet_for_electricians_and_electrical_contractors_199712.pdfAnd also this:http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/~/media/Publications/IWRG643%201.pdfQuoteQuote

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2013, 01:03:33 pm
content: The work ones have already been shipped off to Queensland, to be recycled by hillbillies.So I have a "Notifiable Quantity" of PCB in my shed! When I rang the EPA they had NFI what I was talking about.

author: Len
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2013, 06:38:33 pm
content: Maybe you should contact the Statutory Facilitation Unit. I have no idea what that is but it sounds impressive.

author: ftransform
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2013, 09:34:57 pm
content: burning them is a bad idea

author: lemmegraphdat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2013, 10:28:37 pm
content: Quote from: ftransform on June 18, 2013, 09:34:57 pmIt's a good way to get rid of something that's pretty harmless in the first place. Drill em so the gas can escape. No go boom that way.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2013, 10:50:53 pm
content: Quote from: lemmegraphdat on June 18, 2013, 10:28:37 pmSo... not PCBs.

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2013, 11:05:15 pm
content: Burning them is one of the approved methods to dispose of them, but it isn't something you can do at home. You need very high temperatures and monitoring equipment to assure that the stuff isn't just going out in the smoke.One of the main reasons that PCBs were used is that they are non-flammable, so you need a LOT of heat to destroy them completely.

author: ftransform
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2013, 11:29:26 pm
content: Yes if you don't burn then properly you can vaporize them, and cause worse compounds such as dioxins and furanes to form.I would not attempt it lest you cause some return of the living dead shit to happen.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2013, 11:39:55 pm
content: Rather than trying to put a match to it the hillbillies up north break the stuff down by zapping it with a plasma-arc.

author: ftransform
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2013, 12:02:54 am
content: Quote from: GK on June 18, 2013, 11:39:55 pmin some kind of special jig?

author: calmtron
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2013, 05:54:39 am
content: I would imagine that they are usingPLASCON, since it's Aussie tech and all. Neat!

author: lemmegraphdat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2013, 05:05:41 pm
content: Quote from: GK on June 17, 2013, 01:03:33 pmNext time find an ex wife, they take everything.

author: lemmegraphdat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2013, 05:11:58 pm
content: Quote from: ftransform on June 18, 2013, 11:29:26 pmMaybe nade em with some 100w light bulbs, those things scare the hell out of some people, might work on the dead also.