EPA Fines Arizona Lamp Recycler

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled with the lamp recycling company Lighting Resources LLC for $71,500 for violations relating to its handling of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at its Phoenix recycling facility.

The EPA notes that the facility is permitted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to manage and store PCB wastes. Separate permits allow the facility to recycle fluorescent lamps and ballasts, batteries, electronic wastes and mercury devices. The facility also manages non-PCB ballasts, phosphorous powders, aerosol cans and mercury containing wastes. The company operates facilities in five states and is one of the nation’s largest ballast processors.

According to a release, EPA inspections in 2008 and 2012 found that the Phoenix facility had not effectively decontaminated its PCB handling area, documented the transport and disposal of PCB-contaminated materials or properly labeled PCB and hazardous waste containers.