Absorbents and Used Rags

At automotive service stations and other small businesses, minor spills and leaks of used oil and other liquids often occur during activities such as vehicle maintenance, machinery repair, and fluid servicing. Used rags and other absorbents are generated during the cleanup of these spills and leaks. Rags are also used to (1) apply cleaning solvents to parts and (2) wipe parts clean of dirt and excess liquids such as oils and cleaning solvents.

There are two main types of absorbents: (1) absorbent fabrics, which can often be laundered and reused, and (2) disposable granular absorbents. In addition to rags or towels, types of potentially reusable absorbent fabrics include the following:

·         Pads

·         Pillows

·         Sheets, rolls, or blankets

·         Booms

·         Socks, tubes, or “pigs”

Disposable granular absorbents commonly used to clean up leaks and spills can consist of materials such as the following:

·         Wood (chips or fiber)

·         Paper (wipes or towels)

·         Corncobs

·         Plastic

·         Peat

·         Diatomaceous earth

·         Sawdust

·         Pumice

·         Clay

·         Rice and cottonseed hulls

·         Cork

Absorbent fabrics can be wrung out, laundered or pressed dry for reuse. Certain granular absorbents are made from recycled materials and can also be reused or burned for energy recovery. The appropriate absorbent for the shop depends on specific needs; however, you should choose absorbents that can be recycled or have the potential for beneficial reuse whenever possible. Contact your local absorbent supplier for details.

Problems

Environmental Impact

Absorbents contain the liquids we are trying to keep out of the environment.  They leech into waterways.

Worker Safety

Absorbents pick up liquids that need disposed but they do not change the chemical properties of those liquids.  Whatever health issues the original liquid possesses so does the absorbent.

Regulations

Absorbents are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of according to local, state and federal regulations.

Solutions

Waste Reduction

Reducing the amount of used rags and other absorbents that you generate is environmentally responsible and can save you money (for example, reduce disposal costs). The most effective way to reduce the amount of used absorbents that you generate is to reduce the number and quantity of spills, overfills, and leaks that occur during your operations. This can be accomplished by implementing the simple, low-cost pollution prevention (P2) ideas summarized below.

• Conduct routine inspections of liquid storage areas for leaks.
• Perform regular preventive maintenance of machinery, equipment, containers, and tanks, such as tightening and replacing leaky seals, gaskets, and dispensers.
• Train employees and implement good housekeeping measures.
• Use appropriate equipment for material storage and transfer such as containment pallets, funnels, and self-closing, non-leak faucets.
• Minimize the number of trips and distance related to material transfers to reduce the chance of accidental spills.

These ideas can help reduce spills and leaks; however, spills and leaks are sometimes unavoidable and require cleanup. The additional P2 ideas summarized below can help you reduce the amount of used rags and other absorbents generated during cleanup.

• Use drip pans under leaking cars, machinery, and pipes or under removed parts to catch liquids directly rather than cleaning them up with absorbents. The liquid could be reused or more easily recycled, particularly if you use separate drip pans for different liquids
• Use a vacuum, squeegee and dustpan, or dedicated mop to clean up most of a spill before using absorbents. The liquid could be reused or more easily recycled.
• Keep spill containment and cleanup materials in convenient areas and train employees when and how to use them.
• Store partially used absorbents in closed, labeled containers for reuse.
• Reuse or wring out absorbent materials using extraction devices such as centrifuges, wringers, or compactors to recover used oil and other liquids for reuse or recycling.

Recycling

Use the absorbent more than once.  Keep a container of useable absorbent available.  When the absorbent is saturated it cannot be recycled but rather it must be handled as hazardous waste.

Waste Management

Certain management requirements and exemptions apply to used rags that do not apply to other used absorbents. In general, the easiest and most effective way to manage used rags is to launder them. Used rags that are laundered are not considered a solid waste and therefore are not a hazardous waste. Therefore, testing of the rags and other hazardous waste requirements are not necessary. In addition, using a laundry service can save money by reducing rag purchase and disposal costs.

If a laundry service is contracted to clean used rag, contact it to find out if any restrictions apply to the type or amount of contaminants on the rags it can receive.  Laundry facilities will not accept rags that are saturated with hazardous waste.  Make sure to use enough rags to avoid any saturation.  If you launder your own used rags in your shop, contact the facility that treats the wastewater to find out if it can accept the wastewater you discharge or if the wastewater needs some type of pretreatment.  DO NOT launder your own used rags if your wastewater does not discharge into a treatment facility.

Used absorbents contaminated with hazardous substances other than used oil, especially solvents, paints, and inks, should be evaluated as potential hazardous waste and managed accordingly.

To effectively manage your used rags and other absorbents, keep used absorbents that contain hazardous materials separate from non-hazardous used absorbents and store all absorbents in appropriately labeled containers. Also, do not dump excess liquid wastes into containers of used rags or other absorbents; instead, manage liquids separately.