Drain safe chemistry and regulations

[Ripcord]

I have Easiway Supra in my dip tank and haven't ever drained it. I just recharge it from time to time with fresh Supra....Easiway literature states that Supra is biodegradable, non hazardous, and drain safe.

Recently, my supplier offered me another reclaimer, Saati ER6 and he is willing to give me enough of it for free to fill my dip tank. Of course I want to take advantage of the offer, but I also want to be certain that any chemistry I use is truly drain safe (both because I care, and also because I don't want to violate any environmental regulations...)

The chemical in the Saati is different from Easiway, it's called periodic acid. I can't find any Saati claim that it's drain safe, as I can for Easiway. I called them and they just referred me to the MSDS, which doesn't say either way.

Any chemical I look up on any website says the same thing: Dispose according to all federal, state, and local regulations. But how do you actually find the regulations that pertain to a specific substance?

I'm curious to learn what everyone knows about what defines a "drain safe" chemical, and whether all dip tank chemicals are drain safe, or do some fall outside that definition?

[Frog]

I'm sure that regulations vary by area, but I'm curious about this: The Easiway chemicals may be drain safe, but what about the other dissolved and suspended substances in it?

[Sbrem]

I've always felt that "drain safe" is a BS term, who cares if it's safe for the drain, is it safe to put into the sewer system? Here in Massachusetts, we have the Mass Water Resource Authority, which runs Boston and about 20 miles west of there, which we're on. They have very specific rules, and we have a report to file annually, with a work book that helps explain it all. So, I think you need to find out from your local municipality what they have for rules, or if there is one in your county or state that sets the rules.

Steve

[Ripcord]

I'm sure that regulations vary by area, but I'm curious about this: The Easiway chemicals may be drain safe, but what about the other dissolved and suspended substances in it?

When I reclaim a screen I first card off all the ink and return it to the can. Then I use ink degradent (also water soluble and biodegradable) to remove the residue before I dip the screen. So the suspension in the dip tank would consist of a trace amount of dissolved emulsion, which is listed by the manufacturer as being a non hazardous waste....

So does anyone know of any specific federal, state or local regulations that pertain to the modern chemistry we use in plastisol screen printing? As far as I can tell, our industry is about as green as it can be.

[Ripcord]

They have very specific rules, and we have a report to file annually, with a work book that helps explain it all.
Steve

Steve, you own a much larger shop than I do (I just work by myself,) and also are in an ostensibly more regulated region. Have you ever had any problem with your reported wastewater contents?

[Croft]

I've always felt that "drain safe" is a BS term, who cares if it's safe for the drain, is it safe to put into the sewer system? Here in Massachusetts, we have the Mass Water Resource Authority, which runs Boston and about 20 miles west of there, which we're on. They have very specific rules, and we have a report to file annually, with a work book that helps explain it all. So, I think you need to find out from your local municipality what they have for rules, or if there is one in your county or state that sets the rules.

Steve

totally agree with this , if you really push for an answer you will find its not drain safe when mixed with anything else i.e. ink  , How can they certify what your using in the way of ink, and have you ever seen what emulsion remover does to black ABS plumbing pipe.
 

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

<snip>you ever seen what emulsion remover does to black ABS plumbing pipe<snip> (Croft) I assume you mean a metaperiodatic acid solution.

No. What does it do? My drain piping is black ABS, at least in part.

[Sbrem]

They have very specific rules, and we have a report to file annually, with a work book that helps explain it all.
Steve

Steve, you own a much larger shop than I do (I just work by myself,) and also are in an ostensibly more regulated region. Have you ever had any problem with your reported wastewater contents?

No, we've been careful to use chemicals that work and with proper handling are approved. We have to test the PH of the wastewater every few years; they'll send us the bottle, have us fill it (there is a specific way to do that) and we send it out for testing, get the results and send them in. We also use the Supra here in our tank, reported the MSDS as required, and all is fine. We also have a Blackline filter system, though it's fairly new, 18 months or so. We clean our inks with mineral spirits, which are hauled away every few months, boiled down and recycled, or whatever it is they do. As long as they send us the manifest back signed, we've done our jobs.

Steve

Steve

[RGB]

       I bought a recycler, and can  reuse my thinners, The solids are cooked out, and I find it can be done around 3 times, before its less comparable to virgin.

[Ripcord]

No, we've been careful to use chemicals that work and with proper handling are approved. We have to test the PH of the wastewater every few years; they'll send us the bottle, have us fill it (there is a specific way to do that) and we send it out for testing, get the results and send them in. We also use the Supra here in our tank, reported the MSDS as required, and all is fine. We also have a Blackline filter system, though it's fairly new, 18 months or so. We clean our inks with mineral spirits, which are hauled away every few months, boiled down and recycled, or whatever it is they do. As long as they send us the manifest back signed, we've done our jobs.
Steve

Thanks Steve. I think I'll stick with the Easiway after reading your post. Sounds like everything I'm doing here is OK. I also filter the water out of my washout booth, though it's just a filter I made with a couple of 5 gallon buckets and a big wad of furnace filter material. Do you empty your spent Supra into the sewer drain?

Neil

[Printficient]

There are some zero voc's chemistries out there.  We have an emulsion remover and several ink degraders and haze removers.  Franmar as well has some.  Being ZERO voc should make them septic safe as well as drain safe.

[RGB]

   You would think.... However that still gets into your drinking water, Pills, for example shouldn't be flushed cause they cant totally remove it from the water source, making everyone drink their neighbors meds.