Table Of Content363.7
M2666
Illinois Adanaging and Reducing
Environmental
Protection
Agency Parts Washer
Xtfastes
Office ofSnuil/Business
Informationpresentedinthispublicationisintendedtoprovideageneralunderstandingofthestatutoryanaregulatoryrequirements
governingpartswashing. Thisinformationisnotintendedtoreplace,limitorexpanduponthecompletestatutoryandregulatoryrequirements
foundintheIllinoisEnvironmentalProtectionActandTitle35oftheIllinoisAdministrativeCodeofRegulations.
What is a parts washer?
% TIP f
Parts washers are commonly used in manufacturing WHERECAN FIND MOREINFORMATION?
I
or maintenance operations toclean parts orcompo-
nents. Parts washers include cold cleaning units, A material safety data sheet (MSDS) presents
vapor degreasers and conveyorized degreasers. some of the information necessary to make a
Cleaning solutions used in parts washers include: hazard classification and determinethe proper
disposalmethodformostcommercialproductsand
chemicals. Askyourvendorforinformationabout
• Solvents: Solvents clean bydissolving away
the characteristics ofthe productsyou use and
dirt. Solvents include petroleum-based foracopyofthe MSDS.
solvents such as mineral spirits, Stoddard
solvent, and petroleum naptha, and organic
solvents such as trichloroethane, trichloreth-
What are my hazardous waste regulation
ylene, benzene, and xylenes.
requirements?
• Aqueous Cleaners: Aqueous cleaners are
pH-neutral oralkaline water-based solutions Is my spent parts washer cleaning solution a
hazardouswaste?
that break down and remove dirt from part
surfaces. Semi-aqueous solutions that
contain small amounts of solvents are also Spent parts washercleaning solution is hazardous if
one or more of the following applies:
available.
Why are parts washers a concern? • Flashpoint of less than 140’F
•Contains solvents on the Illinois Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA)
Parts washers use cleaning solutions that eventu-
hazardous waste
ally become spent and must be disposed of. Spent list
parts washer cleaning solutions are considered a • pH less than 2 or greater than 12.5
special waste in Illinois because they may be • Contains toxic metals or organic
hazardous and are an industrial process waste. The chemicals above regulatory limits
fact sheet “Do Have a Special Waste?” explains
I
special wastes in Illinois. In addition, parts washers Spentsolventsarealmost alwaysa hazardouswaste.
Most commonly used solvents have flashpoints
generate other wastes such as rags,
filters, and sludge. This fact sheetwill below 140°F, making them highly ignitable. A spent
help you properly manage - ' ; * solvent can also be a hazardous waste listed on the
your parts washer wastes, Illinois EPA hazardous waste list, which means that
comply with regulations sn it contains organic solvents that have been
applicableto partswashers, and 1 identifiedas being hazardous bythe Illinois EPA. The
reduce wastes generated. wastes include solvents such astetrachloroethylene,
trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, methyl ethyl
ILLINOIS
depository ketone, and benzene. Spent solvents are also
usually hazardous because they contain toxic
2 5 2007
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
rtTriaRmzi* PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT OF ILLINOIS
metals such as chromium and lead from parts and HAVE YOU CONSIDERED
equipment cleaned in the parts washer. AQUEOUS PARTS WASHERS?
Although most aqueouscleaners are nonflammable Aqueous cleaning has the following
and nontoxic when purchased, they can qualify as advantages overusingsolvents:
hazardous waste after extended use because they
may contain toxic metals from the parts and Lowerhazardous waste generation and
equipment cleaned in the parts washer. Spent management costs
aqueous cleaners can also be hazardous for Less workerexposure totoxicchemicals
corrosivity if the pH is less than 2 or greater than Equal or bettercleaning performance
12.5. Spent aqueous cleaning solutions may also Reduction in cleaning laborwith some
be hazardous if they are contaminated with listed aqueous cleaning units
hazardoussolventsorothertoxicorganiccompounds Large cleaning capacities
applied to parts before washing, such as from Elimination offire hazards
aerosol sprays. For more information on listed Longer solution life
hazardous solvents, toxic metals, and toxic organic
compounds, contact the Illinois EPA Office of Small
Business (Office of Small Business).
sheet titled “Do Have a Special Waste?” describes
Are my other parts washing wastes hazardous? how you deterImine you generate hazardous
if
wastes. Contact the Office of Small Business for
Both solvent and aqueous parts washers generate more information on classifying yourwastes.
sludge, which is usually hazardous because it
contains toxic metals and solvents from the parts What are mywaste management requirements?
cleaned. Rags used to wipe parts off after being
washed are also hazardous if they contain toxic If your parts washing wastes are hazardous, the
metals at concentrations exceeding regulatory limits following requirementsapply:
or listed hazardous solvents.
• Hazardous liquids, filters, and sludge must
Many parts washers use filters that must be periodi- be managed by a hazardous waste trans-
cally changed. You need to determine if your used porterand disposal companyin accordance
filters are hazardous by using the same process you with hazardous waste guidelines.
used to determine if yoursolvent is hazardous.
• Rags can be managed by a
The skimmed oil may contain hazardous waste. commercial laundry service
However, you may still be able to manage it as used orhazardouswastedisposal
oil. The fact sheet titled “How Do I Manage My Used company. Ragswithoutfree-
Oil?” explains used oil mixtures. flowing liquid sent to a commercial laundry
service do not need to be accompanied by a
What if I can’tdetermine if my parts manifest.
washerwastes are hazardous
ornonhazardous? your wastes are nonhazardous, the following
If
requirements apply:
you cannot determine
If if
your spent cleaning solution • Nonhazardous spent aqueous cleaning
orotherpartswashing wastes solutions can be discharged to your city
are hazardous, you need to sewersystem ifcertain requirementsare met.
have them analyzed for See the water regulations section below for
ignitability, pH, listed hazard- requirements.
ous solvents, toxic metals, UNIVERSITY OF
and toxic organics. The fact ILLINOIS LIBRARY
AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
2 BOOKSTACKS
TOGETHER WE CAN PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT OF ILLINOIS
Non-liquid industrial process wastes your local POTW to find out their requirements. The
such as filters or rags that are not discharge ofcleaning solutions tothe sanitary sewer
hazardous can be certified as also requiresa permit from Illinois EPA. Spent parts
nonspecial waste in Illinois and washer cleaners, both solvents and aqueous
disposed of as general refuse. cleaners, should never be discharged to a septic
Requirements for this certification are system or storm watersewer. For more information
explained in the fact sheet titled “Do Have on permits and other water regulations that apply to
I
a Special Waste?”. your business, contactthe Office of Small Business.
• Used filters from aqueous parts washers What do I need to know
should be drained to remove all free-flowing about air regulations?
liquid. The drained filters can be managed
in the same manner as non-liquid filters. If All cold-cleaning, open-top
they are not drained or the filters are not vapor degreasing, and
certified as nonspecial, these used filters conveyorized degreasing
should be managed as special waste. operations that use organic solvents must meet
organic material emissions standardsand limitations
• Rags without free-flowing liquid can be set forth by the Illinois EPA. These requirements
managed by a commercial laundry service are related to operating procedures, equipment
ordisposed of as described in the fact sheet limitations, material specifications, and
titled “Do Have a Special Waste.” recordkeeping requirements and will vary depend-
I
ing on where your business is located in Illinois.
• Oil skimmed from an aqueous cleaning
solution may be managed as used motoroil The National Emission Standards for HazardousAir
and recycled. See the fact sheettitled “How Pollutants (NESHAP) Halogenated Solvent
Do I Manage My Used Oil” to determine if Cleaning rule applies to facilities in Illinois that use
youroil qualifies. one or more of the following four types of cleaning
equipment, and one or more of the halogenated
The fact sheet titled solvents listed in Table 1 at a concentration
“How Do Manage My exceeding 5 percent in solution:
I
Hazardous Waste?”
explains howtodetermine • Immersion batch cold-solvent cleaning
the type of hazardous waste equipment with acapacity exceeding two
generatoryou are and which gallons
general hazardouswaste requirements
• Remote-reservoir batch cold-solvent
apply to you.
cleaning equipment of any volume
If you lease your parts washer, the servicecompany • Batch vapor cleaning equipment of any
may offer a service where they will pick up the volume
cleaning solution or solvent when it is spent.
Regardless, you are considered the generatorofthe • in-line (continuous) cold orvaporcleaning
solid waste and must manage the waste properly. equipmentof anyvolume
Is my business affected by water regulations? If your business uses one of the halogenated
solvents in Table 1, permitting, work practice,
control, performance testing, and reporting
Nonhazardousspentaqueouscleaning solutionscan
be discharged to the city sewer if they meet local rNeEquSiHreAmPentrsulme.ay aFpoprlymtooryeourinbfuosrimnaetsisounndoenr tahier
discharge limits or with permission from the local
publicly owned treatment works (POTW). The regulations and how they apply to your business,
POTW may require you to treat your cleaning contact the Illinois EPA Office of Small Business.
solution before discharging to the sewer. Contact
3 LIBRARYU. OF I. URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
TOGETHER WE CAN PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT OF ILLINOIS
Table 1. Solvents Affected by NESHAP y Avoid using listed hazardous
solvents and prevent
Halogenated Solvents Used in a contamination of your
Concentration Greater than 5% cleaning solution with listed
hazardous solvents by
Methylenechloride (dichloromethane) avoiding the use of aerosol
spray cans near your parts
Perchloroethylene (PCE)
washer.
Trichoroethylene (TCE)
Methylchloroform (1,1,1-trichloroethane) Reduce wastesbymaximizingyoursolutionlife:
Carbon tetrachloride UNIVERSfTYOFILLINOIS-URBAN*
Chloroform y Only wash parts when necessary.
3 0112 075668274
Solvents used in cold cleaning operations in the y Keep parts washers closed and away from
Chicago and Metro-East St. Louis ozone heat to minimize product loss and air
non-attainment zones must meet solvent vapor emissions from evaporation-.
pressure requirementsdeveloped bythe Illinois EPA.
These requirements limit the solvent vaporpressure y Only change your cleaning
to 2.0 millimeters (mm) of mercury. Beginning March solution when it no longer
15, 2001, the solvent vapor pressure limit will be adequately cleans parts.
reduced to 1 .0 mm of mercury. The vapor pressure Do notchange yoursolution
must be measured at 20°C or 68°F. The sale of on a scheduled basis, and
solvents used for cold cleaning in these areas of only allow contract pickups
Illinois is restricted to products that meet these when necessary.
requirements and requires the seller and the
y
purchaser to keep records of the solvent purchase Drain your parts thoroughly over the parts
for three years. Contact the Illinois Office of Small washer to reduce loss of cleaning solution.
Business for more information on cold cleaning
solvent requirements and exemptions. y When using aqueous cleaning units, do not
change the cleaning solution only because
it
What are some good management tips for my looksdirty. Manysolutionsturn brown orgray
parts washing system? during use, but this discoloration does not
affect theircleaning ability.
The suggestions below for using less hazardous
parts washercleaning solutions and maximizing the y When using aqueous cleaning units, select
solution’s life are important pollution prevention unitswithfiltration and oil skimming to remove
measures. In addition to environmental protection, solids and oil from aqueous cleaning
pollution prevention can reduce operating costs, solutions and extend solution life.
protect employees, and improve efficiency.
How do obtain more information?
Use theleasthazardouscleaningsolutioninyour I
parts washer: For more information on parts washers, hazardous
waste, water and air regulations and pollution
V Check the MSDS sheet before you purchase prevention tips call the Office of Small Business
products - always use the least toxic Helpline toll-free at (888) EPA-1996 or the DCCA
material. Small Business Environmental Assistance Helpline
at (800) 252-3998. All calls are considered confi-
/ Use a nonignitable parts washer cleaner dential and the caller can remain anonymous. For
(flashpoint greaterthan140°F). other information about environmental issues, see
the Illinois EPA web page at www.epa.state.il.us.
V Use aqueous cleaners instead of solvents.
4
TOGETHER WE CAN PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT OF ILLINOIS
