What Can I Do?
The advice we can give today, with the knowledge base we have, is to follow standard environmental stewardship as you would for any toxic or poison. Instead of solely targeting PCBs in the environment, we recommend a more comprehensive approach: reduce the purchase and use of all toxic chemicals, including PCBs.
To join professionals in the fight against hazardous waste, visit these pages to feel empowered and make a difference!
Visit Other Resources for a wealth of information to help each of us minimize our impact and reduce our personal toxic footprint.
Containing and Disposing of PCBs
Containing and disposing of existing PCBs is difficult because they are pervasive in our environment. It is also difficult to know which products contain PCBs and which don’t. Testing has been done on just a few products compared to all the possibilities that exist. PCBs can be found in everyday products like paint, printing inks, clothing pigments and dyes, pesticides, old fluorescent light ballasts, caulking, lubricants and hydraulic fluids. Do not dispose of PCB-containing material in regular trash or down the drain or storm drain!
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. If online is more your style, go to www.spokanewastedirectory.org for guidance.
Specific Groups
Additionally, we will add tips and recommendations on these pages as we learn more information. The science community is still learning too, so stay tuned!