If your business is in the vehicle maintenance category, then the products you use on the vehicles and on your equipment, tools, hands, or floor might contain hazardous materials, and the waste generated by using these products might be hazardous waste. If you generate hazardous waste, you might be subject to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements covering the generation, transportation, and management of hazardous waste.
Your business is classified under vehicle maintenance if you repair or maintain:
Everyday mechanics and body repair personnel use products containing hazardous materials. Products containing materials that are hazardous to human health and the environment include:
Table 1 lists typical processes/operations that use products that might contain hazardous materials and that probably generate hazardous waste. If you generate 100 kilograms (220 pounds or about half of a 55-gallon drum) or more of hazardous waste per month, you must fill out a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest when you ship hazardous waste off your property. The Manifest requires the proper Department of Transportation (DOT) description for each waste. Table 2 lists proper DOT shipping descriptions for a number of wastes that might be generated during vehicle maintenance operations. Table 1 and Table 2 are not comprehensive lists. If you suspect any waste you generate is hazardous, check with your state hazardous waste management agency or Regional EPA office.
There are special provisions in the regulations for spent lead-acid batteries and used oil. You do not have to use a Manifest when you ship used lead batteries that are destined for recycling or used motor oil that is destined for recycling. If, however, you are disposing of used oil yourself or are sending it off-site for disposal, you generally should handle it as hazardous waste because it is likely to be ignitable or toxic. Special requirements apply if you are burning used oil as fuel. Your state might have its own requirements for lead-acid batteries or used oil; check with your state hazardous waste management agency.
An effective waste minimization program can reduce the costs, liabilities, and regulatory burdens of hazardous waste management, while potentially enhancing efficiency, product quality, and community relations. Waste minimization techniques that can help you reduce the amount of hazardous waste that you generate include:
| Process/Operation | Materials Used | Typical Material Ingredient | General Types of Waste Generated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degreasing | Degreasers (gunk), carburetor cleaners, engine cleaners, solvents, acids/alkalies, cleaning fluids | Petroleum distillates, aromatic hydrocarbons, mineral spirits, benzene, toluene, petroleum naphtha | Acid/alkaline wastes, Spent solvents, Ignitable wastes, Toxic wastes |
| Rust Removal | Naval jelly, strong acids, strong alkalies | Phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, sodium hydroxide | Acid/alkaline wastes |
| Paint Preparation | Paint thinners, enamel reducers, hire spirits | Alcohols, petroleum distillates, oxygenated solvents, mineral spirits, ketones | Paint wastes, Spent Solvents, Ignitable wastes, Toxic wastes |
| Painting | Enamels, lacquers, epoxies, alkyds, acrylics, primers, solvents | Acetone, toluene, benzene, petroleum distillates, epoxy ester resins, methylene chloride, xylene, VM&P naphtha, aromatic hydrocarbons, methyl isobutyl, ketones | Paint wastes, Spent solvents, Ignitable wastes, Toxic wastes |
| Spray Booth, Spray Guns, and Brush Cleaning | Paint thinners, enamel reducers, solvents, white spirits | Ketones, alcohols, toluene, acetone, isopropyl alcohol, petroleum distillates, mineral spirits | Paint wastes, Spent solvents, Toxic wastes |
| Paint Removal | Solvents, paint thinners, enamel reducers, white spints | Acetone, toluene, petroleum distillates, methanol, methylene chloride, isopropyl alcohol, mineral spirits, alcohols, ketones, other oxygenated solvents | Paint wastes, Spent solvents, Toxic wastes |
| Tank Cleanout | Solvents or cleaners to wash out tanks, residues | Solvents, petroleum products in tanks | Tank draws containing toxic residues |
| Installing Lead-Acid Batteries | Used batteries of cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, and other vehicles | Lead dross | Acid/alkaline astes, Batteries (lead-acid) |
| Waste Type | Designations/Trade Names | UN/NA DOT Shipping Name | Hazard Class | ID Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Acid/Alkaline Wastes | ||||
| Ammonium Hydroxide | Ammonium Hydroxide, NH4OH, Spirit of Hartshorn, Aqua Ammonia | Waste Ammonium Hydroxide (containing not less than 12% but not more than 44% ammonia) | Corrosive Material | NA2672 |
| (containing less than 12% ammonia) | ORM-A | NA2672 | ||
| Hydrobromic Acid | Hydrobromic Acid, Hbr | Waste Hydrobromic Acid (not more than 49% strength) | Corrosive Material | UN1788 |
| Hydrochloric Acid | Hydrochloric Acid, HCI, Muriatic Acid | Waste Hydrochlonc Acid | Corrosive Material | NA1789 |
| Hydrofluoric Acid | Hydrofluoric Acid, HF, Fluorohydric Acid | Waste Hydrofluoric Acid | Corrosive Material | UN1790 |
| Nitric Acid | Nitric Acid, HNO2, Aquafortis | Waste Nitric Acid (over 40%) | Oxidizer | UN2031 |
| (40% or less) | Corrosive Material | NA1760 | ||
| Phosphoric Acid | Phosphoric Acid, H3PO4, Orthophosphoric Acid | Waste Phosphoric Acid | Corrosive Material | UN1805 |
| Potassium Hydroxide | Potassium Hydroxide, KOH, Potassium Hydrate, Caustic Potash, Potassa | Waste Potassium Hydroxide Solution | Corrosive Material | UN1814 |
| Dry Solid, Flake, Bead, or Granular | Corrosive Material | UN1813 | ||
| Sodium Hydroxide | Sodium Hydroxide NaOH, Caustic Soda, Soda Lye, Sodium Hydrate | Waste Sodium Hydroxide Solution | Corrosive Material | UN1824 |
| Dry Solid, Flake, Bead, or Granular | Corrosive Material | UN1823 | ||
| Sulfuric Acid | Sulfuric Acid, H2SO4, Oil of Vitriol | Waste Sulfuric Acid | Corrosive Material | UNI830 |
| Chromic Acid | Chromic Acid | Waste Chromic Acid Solution | Corrosive Material | UN1755 |
| Ethylene Dichloride* | Ethylene Dichloride, 1.2-Dichloroethane | Waste Ethylene Dichloride | Flammable Liquid 2 | UN1184 |
| Benzene* | Benzene | Waste Benzene (benzol) | Flammable Liquid | UN1114 |
| Toluene | Toluene | Waste Toluene (toluol) | Flammable Liquid | UN1294 |
| Ethyl Benzene | Ethyl Benzene | Waste Ethyl Benzene | Flammable Liquid | UN1175 |
| Chlorobenzene* | Chlorobenzene, Monochlorobenzene, Phenylchloride | Waste Chlorobenune | Flammable Liquid | UN1134 |
| Cresols* | o-Cresol, m-Cresol, p-Cresol, (m.p) Cresol, (o.m.p)-Cresol | Waste Cresol | Corrosive Material | UN2076 |
| Trichlorethylene* | TCE, Gemalgene, Lanadin, Lethurin, Nialk, P....- Chlor... | Waste Trichlorethylene | ORM-A | UN1710 |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone* | Methyl Ethyl Ketone, MEK, Methyl Acc..., Meetco | Waste Methyl Ethyl Ketone | Flammable Liquid | UN1193 |
| Spent Solvents and Ignitable or Toxic Wastes Containing: | ||||
| Benzene, Ethyl Ketone Chloroform* | Chloroform | Waste Chloroform | ORM-A | UN1888 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | ...... Tetraform, C...ona Halm 104 | Waste Carbon Tetrachloride | ORM-A | UN1846 |
| Hexachlorithene* | Hexachlorithene | Waste Hexchlorithene | ORM-A | NA9037 |
| White Spirits, Varsol | White Spirits, Mineral Spirits, Naphtha | Waste Naphtha | Flammable Liquid | UN2553 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | Aerothene TY, Chlorien, Chlorithane, Methyl Chloroform, Alpha T, Chlomtene | Waste 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | ORM-A | UN2831 |
| Petroleum Distillates | Petroleum Distillates | Waste Petroleum Distillate | Flammable Liquid | UN1268 |
| Combustible Liquid 3 | UN1268 | |||
| Paint Wastes with Heavy Metals | ||||
| Heavy Metal paints or paint sludges with: Nickel*, Chromium* | Hazardous Waste | Liquid or Solid. NOS4 | ORM-E | NA9189 |
| Other Wastes | ||||
| Lead-Acid Batteries | Lead Dross containing 3% or mom free acid) | ORM-C | NA1794 | |
| Used Oil | Waste Petroleum Oil. NOS | Combustible Liquid | NA1270 | |
| Ignitable Wastes, NOS4 | Waste Petroleum Oil. NOS | Flammable Liquid | NA1270 | |
| Hazardous Waste, NOS | Waste Flammable Liquid, NOS | Flammable Liquid | UN1993 | |
| Heavy Metal Paints | Waste Combustible Liquid, NOS | |||
| Lead-Acid Batteries | Combustible Liquid | NA1993 | ||
| Various petroleum products | Waste Flammable Solid, NOS | Flammable Solid | UN1125 | |
| Ignitable wastes | Hazardous Waste, Liquid or Solid. NOS | ORM-E | UN9189 | |
Toxicity Characteristic constituent. Any waste that results in a TCLP leachate containing a Toxicity Characteristic constituent equal to or above regulatory levels is hazardous.
Last Updated: January 5, 1996