It isn’t every day that regulations are loosened, but the EPA has done just that with a set of exemptions for the disposal of certain types of solvent saturated wipes, rags and pads. Because this is such an important change, we simplified pages of regs down to a flowchart decision guide to help you quickly understand if your facility might be eligible for the Exclusions, and a 4-Step Blueprint for Compliance to help you understand what you’ll need to do to comply.
The Waste Minimization Forum surveyed 461 leading plants in the US and found that few were aware of the rule change and what it meant for their facility.
Why this rule change might be important for your facility: The EPA’s estimate of annual SAVINGS per facility from this rule change is $30,489 per large quantity generator (LQG) facility and $4,207 per small quantity generator (SQG) facility.
Find Your Facility’s Path to Exclusion
Download (PDF, 1.35MB)
Keep your wipes eligible for the EPA’s new rule by storing them in a drum with a PIG Latching Lid.
4 Comments
Peter Glaesmansays:
10/06/2015 at 1:52 pmWhat is typically used as, “description of the process the generator is using to meet the “no free liquids” requirement”?
Thanks
Brittanysays:
10/09/2015 at 10:58 amHi Peter,
Basically, if an inspector came to your facility and wanted documentation on how you are ensuring the wipes you’re managing under the new solvent-contaminated wiper management rule aren’t sent away for disposal with free liquids in them, you are required to show them something that explains this. A couple ways to rid wipes of free liquids include centrifuge, a gravity drain and physically wringing out the wipes. It doesn’t usually matter how you get the free liquids out of the wipes, just that you do before sending to a launderer or landfill.
Please leave another comment if you have any further questions.
Thanks,
Brittany
Jamessays:
01/11/2016 at 8:39 pmSo if in the documentation, we indicate that our method of meeting “no free liquids” is “mechanical wringing,” would that suffice?
Considering a site only has a few excluded solvent contaminated wipe drums, before disposal we just have to wring them out to ensure no liquid is sent.
Brittanysays:
01/12/2016 at 8:45 pmHi James,
Thank you for your comment!
Mechanical wringing is a valid method to help ensure that your solvent-contaminated wipes have no free liquids. As part of your documentation, you may want to include a copy of your SOP or any other written guidelines, training materials, etc., that are used to train workers to wring the wipes.
The “no free liquids” requirement applies to wipes that are ready to leave the facility for recycling or disposal. So, you wouldn’t necessarily have to wring them at each collection point. You could wring them at a central location – as long as it is done prior to the wipes leaving the facility. Just remember to keep the collection containers closed and properly labeled throughout the process. Also note that any liquids that you reclaim throught wringing the wipes are not exempt and need to be properly managed.
Do you have any other questions about solvent-contaminated wipes? If so, just leave another comment below!
Thanks,
Brittany
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