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NPEP Success Story: City of Dallas
City of Dallas Aviation Department’s Love Field Terminal Facility
Removes an Additional 1500 Pounds of PCB Ballasts and Over 60 Pounds of Mercury
Dallas Love Field Terminal building opened for business in 1958. Love Field serves the Dallas Metroplex and supports both commercial and general aviation aircraft. A staff of about 150 dedicated workers supports all managerial, administrative, custodial, and maintenance requirements of the field. Current passenger enplanements exceed six million per year.
Since 1958, we have engaged in multiple renovation projects at the Terminal Facility but the basic lighting plan has remained the same. The fluorescent lighting that was originally installed used the best technology available at the time and PCB ballasts were the implement of choice for this early lighting. A few years ago (2005), a plan was initiated to upgrade the lighting and remove the inefficient systems and replace them with more modern efficiency. The removal of this hazardous material was a project that the Director of Aviation chose to champion. "Allowing the hazardous materials to be processed as normal waste is not only unlawful but environmentally irresponsible. It is the right thing to do." In addition, Director Weber was interested in removing as much mercury from our environmental control systems as possible and replacing these antiquated systems with more modern sensing devices. A program was initiated to accomplish the removal of old mercury thermometers and thermostats and replace them with more accurate bi-metal and digital controls.
The Department of Aviation's NPEP Goal
The Department of Aviation joined NPEP in July, 2005 and set an NPEP goal to remove 4,000 pounds of ballasts containing PCBs from the lighting fixtures. The goal was achieved in Spring 2007. An additional increment of 1000 pounds of PCB ballasts was set as well as a goal to remove 50 pounds of mercury through the Mercury Challenge. Both of these goals were achieved by the systematic removal of obsolete technology and the controlled recycling of these materials.
Source Reduction, Recycling or Recovery Alternatives Explored
Based upon our early work with the recycling of PCB containing ballasts we had identified both a HAZMAT transporter and recycler and this association was continued. Qualified sources were sought throughout the area and qualified recyclers were sought out and maintained in a database should the current handlers fail to support the objectives in any way. All ballasts were brought into the Universal Waste Collection area and assessed for the presence of PCBs.
The mercury recycling presented several problems in that the removal of the thermostats and thermometers on the air handler units could not be removed without shutting down the unit. During routine filter replacement the thermostatic devices were evaluated and replaced with suitable parts of a non-hazardous nature. This accounted for the bulk of the weight of the mercury removed.
In addition, all fluorescent light tubes were sent to a light recycler where the glass, metal, and mercury components were separated and collected for recycling. Thus far, this program has accounted for almost 20,000 fluorescent bulbs in the recycling process. No distinction has been made between the EPA approved and the older versions of fluorescent lights since both types contain some mercury.
Hurdles Faced
Most of the hurdles were smoothed out during the initial increment of PCB ballast recycling. A vigilant control of manifests and transportation data was necessary to assure that the PCB ballasts were properly recycled. The mercury recycling program was well established and required minor adjustments as bulk samples were shipped.
Probably the biggest challenge was in adjusting and protecting the budget line item to continue the recycling program. Without proper support from senior management and a commitment to continued environmental excellence the removal of the PCB ballasts and mercury would have been on a very slow, maintenance necessity scale.
Waste Minimization Results
Since the initial increment of 4000 pounds of PCB ballasts were removed there have been an additional 1548 pounds recycled. In addition, during this last year sixty-one pounds of mercury has been recycled through the removal of obsolete thermostats, thermometers and air conditioning control devices. An additional 6,000 mercury containing fluorescent light bulbs have also been sent to the recycler where their mercury was removed and recycled. As of the first of October, 2008 the Department of Aviation has achieved both goals set under the NPEP and Mercury Challenge.
Lessons Learned
Lesson #1 would be that setting specific targets often lead to expansions of the commitment as new sources and considerations are made.
Lesson #2 would be that the establishment of a program and initial support makes it easier to continue that program through the initial goal.
Lesson #3 would be to keep looking. One success gives you the reputation for finding good solutions and you should take advantage of that leverage before it is forgotten by the staff and management.