Textile Manufacturing
Industry Overview
Not all textile manufacturing industries produce hazardous
waste. If, however, you use hazardous solvents and materials
containing toxic chemicals, you might be subject to Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements covering
the generation, transportation, and management of hazardous
waste. .
The following textile manufacturing industry segments are
covered by this summary: . .
• Broad woven fabric mills and wool mills, including
dyeing and finishing , . ' •
• Knitting mills and knit goods finishing
• Other dyeing and finishing textile mills
• Floor covering mills, including dyeing and finishing.
Hazardous Wastes from Textile
Manufacturing
Most of the hazardous waste generated by textile manufacturers
results from the use of solvents. Solvents are used in the dry-
cleaning of synthetic fiber knit fabrics and woven and wool fab- '
rics; in specialty operations such as tricot and lace splitting or
solvent scouring; in dyeing operations; and in some finishing op-
erations for impregnation or coating of textile fibers. In addition,
solvents are used to clean machinery such as rollers and spinning
machines used in textile manufacturing. Spent solvents are listed
hazardous wastes. In addition, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethy-
lene, benzene, and ethylene dichloride are included in the recently
expanded Toxicity Characteristic. Insecticides and disinfectants
also sometimes contain Toxicity Characteristic chemicals such as
cresols, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. Wastewaters or
other process wastes containing these chemicals are hazardous if
they fail the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)
test.
Table 1 lists general processes/operations that use hazardous
materials and that might result in the generation of 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 the 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 are potentially generated during textile mill
operations. Table 1 and Table 2 are not comprehensive lists. If
you suspect that you generate a waste that is not included in this
summary, contact your state hazardous waste management agency
or EPA Regional office for assistance. >
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.
Table 1
Typical Textile Manufacturing Operations:
Materials Used and Hazardous Wastes that Might be
Generated
Process/
Operation
Wool Scouring
Materials Used
Disinfectants,
insecticides, solvents
General Types of
Waste Generated
Spent solvents
Toxic wastes
Fabric and
Floorcovering
Finishing
Stock and Yarn
Processing,
Dyeing, and
Finishing
Dyes, solvents, lacquers,
bleaches, finishing
agents, adhesives
Solvents, dyes
Spent solvents
Toxic wastes
Wastewaters and
wastewater treatment
sludges with toxic
constituents
Spent solvents
Toxic wastes .
EPA/530-SW-90-027e
Printed on recycled paper •
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Waste Type
Table 2
Textile Manufacturing Waste Descriptions1
Designations/Trade Names DOT Shipping Name
Hazard Class
UN/NA
ID Number
WASTE SOLVENTS, SOLVENT STILL
Tctrachlorocthylcne*
Trkhlocoethylene*
Mcthylcnc Chloride
1,1,1-Trichlorocthanc
Chlorobcnzene*
Toluene
Benzene*.
Xylenc
Ethylenc Bichloride*
Varsol
White Spirits
Mineral Spirits
OTHER WASTES
Ignltable Wastes, NOS<
HuMKlous Waste, NOS
BOTTOMS AND OTHER TOXIC WASTES CONTAINING:
Waste Tetrachloroethylene or Perchloroethylene
Waste Trichloroethylene
Waste Dichloromethane or Methylene chloride
Waste 1,1,1-Trichloroethane
Waste Chlorobenzene
Waste Toluene or Toluol
Waste Benzene or Benzol
Waste Xylene (xylol)
Waste Ethylene Dichloride
Waste Naphtha
ORM-A
ORM-A
ORM-A
ORM-A
Flammable Liquid2
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid3
Combustible Liquid
UN 1897
UN17IO
UN 1593
UN2831
UNI 134
UN1294
UNI 115
UN1307
UNI 184
UN1256
UN1256
Waste Flammable Liquid, NOS
Waste Combustible Liquid, NOS
Waste Flammable Solid, NOS
Hazardous Waste, Liquid or Solid, NOS
Flammable Liquid UN1993
Combustible Liquid NA1993
Flammable Solid UN1325
ORM-E UN9189
* Toxicity Characteristic constituent. Any waste that results in a TCLP leachate containing a Toxicity Characteristic constitutent 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 hazardous waste categories.
2 A flammable liquid has a flash point less than 100°F.
3 A combustible liquid has a flash point between 100°F and 200°F.
4 NOS - not otherwise specified.
For further information call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline 1-800-424-9346
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