Solvent-Contaminated Wipes

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has amended the hazardous waste regulations that affect the way your operation needs to manage solvent-contaminated wipes. The change addresses both reusable and disposable solvent-contaminated wipes and allows them to be managed as non-hazardous waste.  Its purpose is to provide a minimum uniform set of requirements designed to protect human health and the environment, while providing for operational flexibility.

The Federal Solvent-Contaminated Wipes Rule took effect January 2014. Since the rule is deregulatory, it must be adopted by each individual state before it becomes effective.  While many states have adopted the rule, not all states have undergone rulemaking.  See below for list of states that have adopted the rule.

If your state has not adopted the rule, you will have to follow your current state policy as every state has a policy for reusable towels.  However, many of them require disposable towels to be managed as hazardous waste.

Following EPA’s management requirements excludes reusable and disposable solvent-contaminated wipes from being regulated as a hazardous waste. This means the overall compliance cost for the industry will be reduced. If your state has adopted this rule; follow the regulations to be in compliance and save your company money.

Resources:

• Federal Solvent-Contaminated Wipe Rule Provides Regulatory Relief – An informative article on the new rule that provides information on the rule’s required management practices.
• Overview of the 2013 Solvent-Contaminated Wipes Final Rule – A detailed PowerPoint explaining the new rule and its management requirements.
• New EPA Rules for Solvent Contaminated Wipes (Shop Towels) – An archived webinar that provides critical information on what is required and what steps must be taken to meet the new requirements.
• Best Management Practices – A fact sheet that identifies proper management practices.
• Reusable Wipes Management Poster – A poster that illustrates how to properly manage reusable wipes.
• Disposable Wipes Management Poster – A poster that illustrates how to properly manage disposable wipes.
• Compliance Documentation Form – This form identifies what needs to be documented and demonstrates compliance.
• Rule By State – A resource depicting the status of the solvent contaminated wipe rule for each state.
• EPA Resources – EPA has a dedicated web page with FAQs, fact sheets and other information on the rule changes.
• Solvent-Contaminated Wipes Summary Chart – A thorough summary of the
  updated rule in a chart format.
• Reusable Wipes Compliance Checklist – A checklist addressing all of
  the requirements that need to be met for the proper management of
  reusable wipes.
• Disposable Wipes Compliance Checklist – A checklist addressing all
  of the requirements that need to be met for the proper management of
  disposable wipes.