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Re: pcb-containing transformer oil
Dear Peter,
I don't know about transformer oil, but I do know
that certain paper recycling companies process
their PCB-contaminated waste sludges into the
inert ingredients for pesticides, fertilizers,
livestock pharmeceuticals, and kitty litter.
Here in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, we have a
company called Grantek (a subsidiary of Thermo
Fibertek) which takes recycling sludges from Fort
James Corporation, which contain between 3 and 5
ppm PCBs last time I checked.
(The sludges also contain hundreds of other trace
toxics, including furans, dioxins, other
chlorinated organics and many heavy metals ---
from the inks, dyes, coatings and other
contaminants removed from the waste paper coming
into the recycling process.)
Grantek dries and pelletizes the sludge into
small gray granules, which are sold to chemical
companies to become the carrier for their
pesticides, etc. Certain mosquito pesticides
use these pellets. The pellets are spread on
aquatic areas.
The company received specific permission from the
EPA to start doing this.
The irony is that the original waste sludges were
created as a result of improved wastewater
treatment to prevent the PCBs from being
discharged in our river --- only now, it's legal
to spread the sludge pellets back in the river as
a mosquito treatment.
For more information, search the Internet for
"Grantek" and "Fibertek" (or Fibretek?) The
parent company, Thermo Electron Corporation, is a
huge conglomerate with a lot of information on
it's Webpage.
Grantek was the first of its kind, but the
company hopes the concept will spread to other
companies. (Locally, Grantek faces steep
competition from several sludge incinerators and
cheap landfills.)
Hope this helps.
Rebecca Leighton Katers
Clean Water Action Council of N.E. Wisconsin
East Port Center
1270 Main Street, Suite 120
Green Bay, WI 54302
Phone: 920-437-7304
Fax: 920-437-7326
E-mail: cwac@execpc.com