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Specialty Scrap
Ballasts (Fluorescent)
Grade: VariousLow Tier
Lighting ballasts - PCB and non-PCB types
Market Price EstimateUpdated Daily
$350/ MT
-15 (-4.1%)vs yesterday
Verified specifications & market data
Chemical Composition
Elemental breakdown by percentage weight.
Standard composition limits
Values represent maximum allowed percentage unless otherwise noted.
Physical Properties
Material form, density, and contamination specifications.
End-of-life fluorescent lighting ballasts; lighting equipment decommissioning; LOW precious metal content (8-18% copper; 50-70% steel); EXTREME hazmat complexity (PCB contamination legacy ballasts CRITICAL; EPA testing mandatory pre-1978; transformation oil hazmat variable; capacitor hazard potential); MAXIMUM supplier diversity (389 suppliers; lighting ubiquity extreme); LOW-MEDIUM value commodity; copper recovery modest; steel secondary; PCB/oil hazmat dominant concern; hazardous waste specialist processing required; environmental/occupational hazmat stringent; declining secular trend (LED lighting replacement dominant)
Acceptable Inclusions
- Copper 8-18% (ballast specification)
- Steel 50-70% (commodity value)
- Mineral oil 2-8% (modern safe)
- Plastic 8-15% (recyclable)
- Post-1978 ballasts (non-PCB; modern safe)
Prohibited Materials
- PCB-contaminated ballasts (pre-1978; HAZMAT EXTREME; EPA violation)
- Unknown age/vintage (PCB risk unquantified; testing mandatory)
- Mixed PCB/non-PCB batches (contamination risk; separation required)
- Intact ballasts without hazmat assessment (processing hazard)
Quality Assurance
Testing protocols, sampling methods, and acceptance criteria.
Sampling Protocol
frequencyStratified sampling by ballast age/vintage; testing pre-1978; oil hazmat assessment; contamination risk comprehensive
maximumQuantity1000+ ballasts per shipment
minimumQuantity50-200 ballasts or 20-100 kg
percentage15-25% of lot
stratificationSample across ballast ages; manufacturers; types; hazmat assessment
Acceptance Limits
age AssessmentBallast vintage/age estimated; pre-1978 status
all Criteria Must PassMaterial be fluorescent ballast; status verified; hazmat profile established; compliance confirmed
ballast AuthenticityConfirmed as fluorescent ballast
copper ContentCopper 8-18% confirmed
hazmat Protocolhazmat disposal protocol established; regulatory compliance confirmed; waste code assigned if applicable
oil TypeOil type identified; environmental hazmat profile established
pcb Statusstatus verified; <0.001% hazmat classification assigned
steel ContentSteel 50-70% confirmed
Weight Tolerance
measurementVerified by certified scale; weight accountability for hazmat waste commodity
variance±10% from expected weight
Required Test Methods
Visual Ballast Age Assessment
CRITICAL
Purpose
- determine ballast manufacture date
- establish PCB risk profile (pre-1978 = extreme)
Acceptance Criteria
- Ballast age estimated
- PCB risk category established
- pre-1978 identification CONFIRMED if applicable
Procedure
- 100% visual inspection
- identify ballast markings/manufacturer
- research production date if possible
- estimate manufacture decade
- classify pre-1978 status ()
PCB Testing via Gas Chromatography
MANDATORY
Purpose
- detect
- verify EPA environmental regulations
- quantify hazmat disposal cost impact
Acceptance Criteria
- PCB testing completed ( pre-1978)
- PCB <0.001% VERIFIED (compliant) OR PCB DETECTED (hazmat classification assigned
- disposal requirement established)
Oil Hazmat Type Assessment
CRITICAL
Purpose
- identify oil type (PCB legacy vs. mineral modern)
- establish environmental hazmat profile
- determine disposal pathway
Acceptance Criteria
- Oil type confirmed (mineral oil modern safe OR PCB-contaminated legacy extreme)
- hazmat profile established
- disposal protocol clear
Copper & Steel Content Verification
Purpose
- Verify copper 8-18%
- confirm steel 50-70%
- establish commodity metal value base
Acceptance Criteria
- Cu 8-18%, Fe 50-70%
- specification met
- commodity basis confirmed
Procedure
- Visual metal assessment
- copper winding identification
- steel lamination
- metal percentage estimation
EPA Hazardous Waste Classification
CRITICAL
Purpose
- Regulatory : determine EPA waste classification
- assign hazardous waste code if PCB-positive
- establish disposal requirements
Acceptance Criteria
- EPA classification assigned
- waste category documented
- disposal pathway specified
- regulatory compliance verified