Equipment Repair
Industry Overview
Not all equipment repair operations produce hazardous waste.
If, however, you use any solvents, petroleum products, paints,
special parts cleaners and fluids, or lacquers, the waste generated
from using these materials might be hazardous. 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 included in the equipment repair category if
you operate a:
• Radio and/or television repair shop
• Refrigeration and air conditioning service or repair
shop
• Miscellaneous equipment shop (e.g., electrical
household appliances or industrial equipment)
or if you repair equipment used for:
• Pipelines (except natural gas)
• Communications
• Power generation transmission
• Automatic merchandising machines
• Amusement parks.
Hazardous Wastes
from Equipment Repair
Everyday mechanics and repair personnel use products contain-
ing hazardous materials. Products that contain materials that are
hazardous to human health and the environment include:
Rust removers that contain strong acid or alkaline
solutions
Degreasers that contain ignitable liquids and toxic
chemicals
Paint thinners or reducers that are ignitable
and/or contain toxic chemicals
Paints and coatings with heavy metals or toxic
constituents.
Table 1 lists typical operations/processes that use products that
might contain hazardous materials and that probably generate haz-
ardous 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
Department of Transportation (DOT) description for each waste.
Table 2 lists the proper DOT shipping descriptions for a number
of wastes that might be generated during equipment repair opera-
tions. Table 1 and Table 2 are not comprehensive lists. If you
suspect that any waste you are generating is hazardous, check
with your state hazardous waste management agency or EPA
Regional office.
There are special provisions in the regulations for used oil.
You do not have to use a Manifest when you ship used motor oil
that is destined for recycling. If, however, you are disposing of
used oil yourself or are sending it offsite for disposal, you gener-
ally should handle it as hazardous waste because it is likely to be
ignitable or toxic. There are special requirements that apply if you
are burning used oil as fuel. Your state might have its own re-
quirements for used oil; check with your state hazardous waste
management agency.
Waste Minimization
An effective waste minimization program can reduce the costs,
liabilities, and regulatory burdens of hazardous waste manage-
ment, 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:
• Production planning and sequencing
• Process/equipment adjustment or modification
• Raw material substitution
• Loss prevention and housekeeping
• Waste segregation and separation
• Recycling.
Training and supervision of employees implementing waste
minimization techniques is an important part of your successful
program. Call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline toll-free at 800-424-
9346 (or TDD 800-553-7672 for the hearing-impaired) for waste
minimization information and publications.
EPA/530-SW-90-027d
Printed on recycled paper
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Table 1
Typical Equipment Repair Operations:
Materials Used and Hazardous Wastes that Might be Generated
Process/Operation
Materials Used
Typical Material Ingredient
General Types of
Waste Generated
Decreasing; Engine, Parts, and
Equipment Cleaning
Rust Removal
Paint Preparation
Painting
Spray Booth, Spray Guns, and Brush
Cleaning
Paint Removal
Degreasers (gunk), carburetor
cleaners, engine cleaners, solvents,
acids/alkalies, cleaning fluids
Naval jelly, strong acids, strong
alkalies
Paint thinners, enamel reducers,
white spirits, paint removers
Enamels, lacquers, epoxies, alkyds,
acrylics, primers, solvents
Paint thinners, enamel reducers,
solvents, white spirits
Solvents, paint thinners, enamel
reducers, white spirits
Petroleum distillates, aromatic
hydrocarbons, mineral spirits,
benzene, toluene, petroleum naphtha
Phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid,
hydrofluoric acid, sodium hydroxide
Alcohols, petroleum distillates,
oxygenated solvents, mineral
spirits, ketones
Acetone, toluene, petroleum
distillates, epoxy ester resins,
methylene chloride, xylene, VM&P
naphtha, aromatic hydrocarbons,
methyl isobutyl, ketones
Ketones, alcohols, toluene, acetone,
isopropyl alcohol, petroleum
distillates, mineral spirits
Acetone, toluene, petroleum
distillates, methanol, methylene
chloride, isopropyl alcohol, mineral
spirits, alcohols, ketones, other
oxygenated solvents
Acid/alkaline wastes
Toxic wastes
Ignitable wastes
Spent solvents
Acid/alkaline wastes
Ignitable wastes
Toxic wastes
Paint wastes
Spent solvents
Ignitable wastes
Toxic wastes
Paint wastes
Spent solvents
Ignitable wastes
Toxic wastes
Paint wastes
Paint wastes
Spent solvents
Toxic wastes
Waste Type
Table 2
Equipment Repair Waste Descriptions1
Designations/Trade Names DOT Shipping Name
Hazard Class
UN/NA
ID Number
STRONG ACID/ALKALINE WASTES
Ammonium Hydroxide
Hydrobromic Acid
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrofluoric Acid
Nitric Acid
Phosphoric Acid
Potassium Hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide
Ammonium Hydroxide, NH4OH, Spirit
of Hartshorn, Aqua Ammonia
Hydrobromic Acid, HBr
Hydrochloric Acid, HC1, Muriatic Acid
Hydrofluoric Acid, HF, Fluorohydric
Acid
Nitric Acid, HN02, Aquafortis
Waste Ammonium Hydroxide (containing not
less than 12% but not more than 44% ammonia)
(containing less than 12% ammonia)
Waste Hydrobromic Acid (not more than 49%
strength)
Waste Hydrochloric Acid
Waste Hydrofluoric Acid
Waste Nitric Acid (over 40%)
(40% or less)
Waste Phosphoric Acid
Phosphoric Acid, H3P04,
Orthophosphoric Acid
Potassium Hydroxide, KOH, Potassium Waste Potassium Hydroxide Solution
Hydrate, Caustic Potash, Potassa Dry Solid, Flake, Bead, or Granular
Sodium Hydroxide NaOH, Caustic Soda, Waste Sodium Hydroxide Solution
Soda Lye, Sodium Hydrate Dry Solid, Flake, Bead, or Granular
Sulfuric Acid, H2SO4, Oil of Vitriol
Chromic Acid
Waste Sulfuric Acid
Waste Chromic Acid Solution
Sulfuric Acid
Chromic Acid
SPENT SOLVENTS AND IGNITABLE OR TOXIC WASTES CONTAINING:
Elhylenc Dichloridc* Ethylene Dichloride, 1,2- Waste Ethylene Dichloride
Benzene*
Ethylene Dichloride, 1,2-
Dichloroethane
Benzene
Corrosive Material NA2672
ORM-A
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Oxidizer
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive
Corrosive
Corrosive
Corrosive
Corrosive
Corrosive
Material
Material
Material
Material
Material
Material
Waste Benzene (benzol)
Flammable Liquid2
Flammable Liquid
NA2672
UN1788
NA1789
UN1790
UN2031
NA1760
UN1805
UN1814
UN1813
UN 1824
UN 1823
UN1832
UN1755
UN1184
UNI 114
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I 3D 16 £. (continued)
Equipment Repair Waste Descriptions1
Waste Type
Toluene
Ethyl Benzene
Chlorobenzene*
Cresols*
Trichloroethylene*
Methyl Ethyl Ketone*
Chloroform*
Carbon Tetrachloride*
Hexachloroethane*
White Spirits, Varsol
1,1,1 -Trichloroethane
Designations/Trade Names
Toluene
Ethyl benzene
Chlorobenzene, Monochlorobenzene,
Phenylchloride
o-Cresol, m-Cresol, p-Cresol, (m,p)-
Cresol, (o,m,p)- Cresol
TCE, Gemalgene, Lanadin, Lethurin,
Nialk, Perm-a-Chlor
Methyl Ethyl Ketone, MEK, Methyl
Acetone, Meetco, Butanone, Ethyl
Methyl Ketone
Chloroform
Perchloromethane Tetraform, Carbona
Halon 104
Hexachloroethane
White Spirits, Mineral Spirits,
Naphtha
Aerothene TT, Chlorten,
DOT Shipping Name
Waste Toluene (tuluol)
Waste Ethyl benzene
Waste Chlorobenzene
Waste Cresol
Waste Trichloroethylene
Waste Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Waste Chloroform
Waste Carbon Tetrachloride
Waste Hexachloroethane
Waste Naphtha
Waste 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane
Hazard Class
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Corrosive Material
ORM-A
Flammable Liquid
ORM-A
ORM-A
ORM-A
Flammable Liquid
ORM-A
UN/NA
ID Number
UN1294
UNI 175
UN1134
UN2076
UN1710
UNI 193
UN1888
UN1846
NA9037
UN2553
UN2831
Petroleum Distillates
Chloroethane, Methyl Chloroform,
Alpha T, Chlorotene
Petroleum Distillates
PAINT WASTES WITH HEAVY METALS
Heavy Metal paints with: Heavy Metal Paints
Lead*
Nickel*
Chromium*
OTHER WASTES
Used Oil Various petroleum products
Ignitable Wastes, NOS Ignitable Wastes
Hazardous Waste, NOS
Waste Petroleum Distillate
Hazardous Waste, Liquid or Solid, NOS4
Flammable Liquid UN1268
Combustible Liquid3 UN1268
ORM-E
NA9189
Waste Petroleum Oil, NOS
Waste Petroleum Oil, NOS
Waste Flammable Liquid, NOS
Waste Combustible Liquid, NOS
Waste Flammable Solid, NOS
Hazardous Waste, Liquid or Solid, NOS
Combustible Liquid
Flammable Liquid
NA1270
NA1270
Flammable Liquid UN1993
Combustible Liquid NA1993
Flammable Solid UN1325
ORM-E
UN9189
* Toxicity Characteristic constituent. Any waste that results in a leachate containing a Toxicity Characteristic constituent equal to or above regulatory levels is
hazardous.
1 These descriptions may change given variations in waste characteristics or conditions. Note that the DOT shipping name, hazard class, and UN/NA ID number
do not directly correspond to RCRA hazarous waste categories.
2 A flammable liquid has a flash point below 100°F.
3 A combustible liquid has a flash point between 100°F and 200°F.
4 NOS - Not otherwise specified.
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For further information call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline 1-800-424-9346
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