Agenda Packets - 1982/12/06 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-2- 2) SOLVENTS. Solvents of varying types are used by many varied I industries for cleaning and manufacturing purposes. What are these wastes? Common solvents include chlorinated chlorine -containing compounds such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane ("trichlor"), perchloroethylene ("pert"), and freon; and non -chlorinated compounds including methylethyl ketone, acetone, and alcohols. - Why are they hazardous? Chlorinated solvents are not flammable, but they are somewhat toxic, and when placed in a landfill they migrate easily, causing groundwater contamination. Non - chlorinated solvents are less toxic, but tend to be quite flammable. - How should these wastes be handled? Solvents can be readily recycled as long as they are not too contaminated. Non - chlorinated solvents can also be blended with fuel oil and burned. Those solvents which can't be recycled or blended with fuel can be burnt in a commercial incinerator. - What facilities does Minnesota need? Currently, many Twin Cities firms ship their waste solvents to a solvent recycler in Wisconsin. A transfer station for aggregating these wastes into suitable truckloads or for blending prior to shipment would be useful. In the future, there could be the need in this area for a local solvent refin_in_g facility. In addition, there may be the market for a igl uidinjection incinerator. 3. OILS AND GREASES. These wastes are generated by refineries which Produce Petro eum products, service industries such as auto repair shops and gasoline stations, and a broad spectrum of manufacturing industries which use machinery requiring lubrication or hydraulic equipment. - What are these wastes? They include waste motor oil, cutting oils, hydraulic oil, and residues from oil tanks. Why are they hazardous? Although not highly toxic, when improperly disposed these wastes can be washed away by rainfall and pollute surface waters. Used engine oils contain heavy metals, and so oil can be a source of heavy metal pollution of surface and ground waters. Traditional methods of disposal such as snraarl;n,, ,al or. roads fur dust control are falling into disfavor because of the potential for pollution from runoff. How should these wastes be handled? Oils should be recycled for reuse, as a lubricant, burnt to recover their heating values or blended with asphalt to make paving material. Oily residues not suitable for other uses can be landfarmed--that is, spread on the surface of the soil to allow biodegradation.