Metal Manufacturing
Industry Overview
Most metal manufacturing operations produce some hazardous
waste. If you use any solvents, strong acid or alkaline solutions,
plating solutions, paints, cyanide solutions, or any solutions con-
taining heavy metals, it is likely that your operation generates
hazardous waste. Facilities that generate hazardous waste might be
subject to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) re-
quirements covering the generation, transportation, and manage-
ment of hazardous waste.
Your business is classified under metal manufacturing if you
manufacture:
Metal furniture, shelves, lockers, cabinets and fixtures
Primary metal products
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, including electrical and electronic machin-
ery, equipment, and supplies
Storage or primary batteries
Motor vehicle parts and accessories
Measuring, analyzing, or controlling instruments (for
example, photographic, medical, or optical
equipment)
Other metal items such as clocks and watches; cos-
tume and precious metal jewelry; needles, pins, and
similar notions; signs and advertising displays; burial
caskets; silverware or stainless steel flatware.
Metal manufacturing also includes facilities that are involved
in metalworking activities such as:
Rolling, drawing, and extruding of non-ferrous
metals
Heat treating
Coating, engraving, and allied services.
Hazardous Wastes from
Metal Manufacturing
Metal manufacturing businesses perform many different pro-
cesses, including machining, grinding, buffing, polishing, tum-
bling, sand casting, forming, rolling, extruding, forging, ironing,
lettering, enameling, cleaning, welding, finishing, die sinking,
pickling, coining, degreasing, electrogalvanizing, electroplating,
and painting. The wastes associated with these processes fall into
several major categories:
Spent solvent and solvent still bottoms re-
sult from cleaning and degreasing operations. The
types of solvents used include chlorinated solvents
(e.g., methylene chloride, dichlorobenzene, carbon te-
trachloride, trichloroethylene) or hydrocarbons (e.g.,
xylene, toluene, benzene). Other solvents are kerosene
or mineral spirits ("Stoddard" solvents).
Strong acid wastes are generated in considerable
quantity wherever any type of metal is formed or pro-
cessed. Many pickling solutions are highly acidic; the
acid, if not neutralized, might be carried to subsequent
manufacturing operations. Subsequent operations can
include drawing, rolling, pressing, electroplating, hot
dip galvanizing or hot tinning, anodizing, phosphat-
ing, metal coloring, and many others.
Strong alkaline wastes are generated from the
use of pickled aluminum and sometimes zinc.
Plating wastes are generated from electroplating
operations. These wastes can be acidic or alkaline and
contain significant concentrations of heavy metals.
Acid plating solutions generally contain free acids and
heavy metals such as copper, nickel, zinc, and possi-
bly tin or cadmium. Alkaline plating solutions in-
clude zinc baths and sometimes tin baths. The waste
products from plating can include spent plating solu-
tions or sludges and stripping and cleaning bath solu-
tions.
Heavy metal wastewater sludges are generated
from wastewater treatment. Depending on the opera-
tion, these sludges can contain arsenic, barium,
chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury, silver, or sele-
nium. High concentrations of lead are found in the
sludges from battery manufacturing plants. Other
sludges can come from grinding, tank clean-outs, dust
collectors, and lead pots.
Paint and coating wastes are generated by sev-
eral segments of the industry. Generally, hazardous
paint wastes contain cadmium, chromium, lead and/or
mercury. Paints, lacquers, adhesives, and varnishes
might contain toxic organic chemicals as well.
Cyanide wastes are generated from cyanide plating
solutions and simple cyanide solutions. Cyanide plat-
ing solutions are used in metal plating operations.
Simple cyanide solutions are used mainly for harden-
ing and metal cleaning. Cyanide baths are commonly
used in metal finishing and heat treating operations.
Other ignitable or toxic wastes are generated
by the metal manufacturing industry. It is important
to determine if your business generates any waste
containing chemicals on the Toxicity Characteristic
list.
EPA/530-SW-90-027n
Printed on recycled paper
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Other reactive wastes are generated primarily by
the photographic equipment and supplies industry,
although other metal manufacturing industries can
also generate reactive wastes. These wastes can in-
clude strong oxidizing agents such as chromic acid,
perchlorates, and permanganates used in metal finish-
ing, and other reactive compounds such as hypochlo-
rites, peroxides, sulfides, nitrates, and sodium hydrox-
ide.
In addition to these wastes, most metal manufacturing industry
operations will generate used oil. Oils can come from cutting, lu-
bricating, and/or quenching. RCRA regulations contain special
provisions for used oil. You do not have to use a Manifest when
shipping used oil that is destined for recycling. If, however, you
arc disposing of used oil yourself or are sending it offsite for dis-
posal, it generally should be handled as hazardous waste because it
is likely to be ignitable or toxic. Special requirements apply if
you are burning used oil as fuel. Some states have rules that ap-
ply to used oil, and EPA is currently developing new regulations
for used oil.
Most metal manufacturers also generate scrap metal. At pre-
sent, any metal destined for reclamation is not regulated by EPA.
Questions concerning used oils, scrap metal and other wastes
should be referred to your state hazardous waste management
agency or EPA Regional office.
Table 1 lists general operations/processes 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 might be generated by metal manufactur-
ers. Table 1 and Table 2 are not comprehensive lists. If you sus-
pect any waste you generate is hazardous, check with your state
hazardous waste management agency or EPA Regional office.
Waste Minimization
An effective waste minimization program can reduce the costs,
liabilities, and regulatory burdens of hazardous waste marfage-
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 Metal Manufacturing Operations:
Materials Used and Hazardous Wastes that Might be
Generated
Process/
Operation
Materials Used
General Types of
Waste Generated
Metal Cutting/
Machining
Degreasing
Pickling
Heat Treating
Metal Finishing
and Painting
Facility Cleanup
Electroplating
Oils, solvents, lime,
metal cuttings
Solvents, alkaline
wastes, rags
Pickling acids
Quenching oils, cyanide
salts, barium salts,
alkaline wastes
Paints, coatings,
cleaning solvents,
alkaline cleaning
solutions, lacquers
Solvents, rags,
absorbents
Heavy metals, cyanide
solutions, acid and
alkaline solutions,
plating solutions
Acid/alkaline wastes
Toxic heavy metal wastes
(dust and sludge)
Solvent wastes
Other toxic wastes
Acid/alkaline wastes
Ignitable wastes
Solvent wastes
Toxic wastes
Acid/alkaline wastes
Acid/alkaline wastes
Cyanide wastes
Toxic heavy metal wastes
Acid/alkaline wastes
Paint .wastes
Solvent wastes
Toxic wastes
Solvent wastes
Acid/alkaline wastes
Cyanide wastes
Toxic heavy metal wastes
Plating wastes
Reactive wastes
Waste Type
Table 2
Metal Manufacturing Waste Descriptions1
Designations/Trade Names DOT Shipping Name
Hazard Class
UN/NA
ID Number
SPENT SOLVENTS, SOLVENT STILL BOTTOMS, AND OTHER TOXIC WASTES CONTAINING:
Teirachlorocthylcnc*
Triehloroethylene*
Mcihylcnc Chloride
Perchloroethylene, Perc, Tetralex, Perawin, Perelene,
Terlen, Didakene, TetraCap, Antisal 1, Fedad-UN,
Ncme Gemalgene, Perma-A-Chlor, TCE, Benzinol,
Dow-Tri, Nialk, Vestrol, Trielin
Tri-Clene, Trielene, Tri
Aerothene MM, Narkotil
Waste Tetrachloroethylene or ORM-A
Perchloroethylene
Waste Triehloroethylene ORM-A
Waste Dichloromethane or ORM-A
Methylene Chloride
UN1897
UN1710
UN1593
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13 016 2 (continued)
Metal Manufacturing Waste Descriptions1
Waste Type
1,1,1 -Trichloroethane
Carbon Tetrachloride*
Trichlorotrifluoroethane
Trichlorotrifluoromethane
Toluene
Methyl Ethyl Ketone*
Benzene*
Chloroform*
o-Dichlorobenzene*
p-Dichlorobenzene*
Acetone
Xylene
White Spirits
Kerosene
Butyl Alcohol
Designations/Trade Names
Aerothene TT, Chlorten, Inhibisol, Chlorothen NU,
Alpha-T
Perchloromethane, Tetraform, Carbona, Halon 104
Fluorocarbon 113, Freon 113,Ucon 113, Freon TF,
Frigen 113 113TR-T, Arcton 63
Eskimon 11, Ucon 11, Isotron 11, Freon 11, Freon
MF, Fluorochloroform, Arcton 9
Toluol, Methercid, Methyl Benzene, Methylbenzol,
Phenylmethane, Antisol 1A
Methyl Ethyl Ketone, MEK, Methyl Acetone, Meetco,
Butanone, Ethyl Methyl Ketone
Benzene
Chloroform
o-Dichlorobenzene
p-Dichlorobenzene
Acetone
Xylene, Xylol
Mineral Spirits, Naphtha, Stoddard Solvent
Kerosene, Fuel Oil #1
n-Butyl Alcohol, sec-Butyl Alcohol, tert-Butyl
Alcohol
DOT Shipping Name
Waste 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane
Waste Carbon Tetrachloride
Hazardous Waste, Liquid, NOS2
Hazardous Waste, Liquid, NOS
Waste Toluene (toluol)
Waste Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Waste Benzene (benzol)
Waste Chloroform
Waste Dichlorobenzene, ortho,
Liquid
Waste Dichlorobenzene, para
Waste Acetone
Waste Xylene (xylol)
Waste Naphtha
Waste Kerosene
Waste Butyl Alcohol
Hazard Class
ORM-A
ORM-A
ORM-E
ORM-E
Flammable Liquid3
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
ORM-A
ORM-A
ORM-A
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Combustible Liquid4
Flammable Liquid
UN/NA
ID Number
UN2831
UN1846
NA9189
NA9189 :
UN1294
UNI 193
UNI 114
UN1888
UN1591
UN1592
UN1090
UN1307
UN2553
UN1223
NA1120
STRONG ACID/ALKALINE WASTES
Ammonium Hydroxide
Hydrobromic Acid
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrofluoric Acid
Nitric Acid
Phosphoric Acid
Potassium Hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide
Sulfuric Acid
Perchloric Acid
Ammonium Hydroxide, NH4OH, Spirit of Hartshorn,
Aqua Ammonia
Hydrobromic Apid, HBr
Hydrochloric Acid, HC1, Muriatic Acid
Hydrofluoric Acid, HF, Fluorohydric Acid
Nitric Acid, HN02, Aquafortis
Phosphoric Acid, H3P04, Orthophosphoric Acid
Potassium Hydroxide, KOH, Potassium
Hydrate, Caustic Potash, Potassa
Sodium Hydroxide NaOH, Caustic Soda, Soda
Lye, Sodium Hydrate
Sulfuric Acid, H2SO4, Oil of Vitriol
Perchloric Acid
Waste Ammonium Hydroxide
(containing not less than 12%
but not more than 44%
ammonia)
(containing less than 12%
ammonia)
Waste Hydrobromic Acid
Waste Hydrochloric Acid
Waste Hydrofluoric Acid
Waste Nitric Acid (over 40%)
(40% or less)
Waste Phosphoric Acid
Waste Potassium Hydroxide
Solution
Dry Solid, Flake, Bead,
or Granular
Waste Sodium Hydroxide
Solution
Dry Solid, Flake, Bead, or
Granular
Waste Sulfuric Acid
Waste Perchloric Acid
Corrosive Material
ORM-A
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Oxidizer
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Oxidizer
NA2672
NA2672
UN1788
NA1789
UN1790
UN2031
NA1760
UNI 805
UN1814
UN1813
UN1824
UN1823
UN1832
UN1873
(Over 50%-72%)
Waste Perchloric Acid
(50% or less)
Oxidizer
UN1802
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I 3D 16 t. (continued)
Metal Manufacturing Waste Descriptions1
Waste Type
Acetic Acid
Nitrates
Designations/Trade Names
Acetic Acid
Nitrate
DOT Shipping Name
Waste Acetic Acid (Aqueous
Solution)
Waste Nitrate, NOS
Hazard Class
Corrosive Material
Oxidizer
UN/NA
ID Number
UN2790
NA1477
SPENT PLATING WASTES
Spent Plating \V«stes
Spent Acid, Alkaline and Cyanide Plating Solutions
and Sludges
HEAVY METAL WASTEWATER SLUDGES
Heavy Metal Wastcwatcr
Sludges
CYANIDE WASTES
Cyanide Waste
Sludges from wastewater treatment, grinding, tank
clean outs, dust collectors, and lead pots
Spent cyanide, hardening and cleaning
solutions, sludge from quench and wash tank
OTHER REACTIVE WASTES
Acciyl Chloride Acetyl Chloride
Chromic Acid Chromic Acid
Hypochloritcs Hypochlorous Acid, Eau de Labarraque, Clorox, Dazzle
Hazardous Waste, Liquid or ORM-E
Solid, NOS
Hazardous Waste, Liquid or ORM-E
Solid, NOS
Waste Cyanide Solution, NOS Poison B
Waste Cyanide Mixture, Dry Poison B
Waste Acetyl Chloride
Waste Chromic Acid Solution
Hypochlorite solution (7%
chlorine by weight)
Hypochlorite solution (7%
chlorine by weight)
ORM-B
NA9189
NA9189
Poison B
Poison B
Flammable Liquid
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
UN1935
UN1588
UN1717
UN1755
UN1791
NA1791
Organic Peroxides
Pcrchloratcs
Permanganates
Sulfidcs
OTHER WASTES
Used Oil
Ignitablc Wastes, NOS
Hazardous Waste, NOS
Organic Peroxide
Sodium or Potassium Perchlorate, Irenat,
Periodin, Perchlorocap
Sodium or Potassium Permanganate,
Permanganic Acid, Chameleon Mineral
Sodium or Potassium Sulfide, Sodium or
Potassium Monosulfide, Sodium Sulfuret
Dodge Combo MP8, Texaco Cleartex-D, Mobil
Omicron, Shell Tellus, Welbube A-307, Eppert 204,
Sunvis 931, Solene, Mobilmet Omieron
Ignitable Wastes, NOS
Waste Organic Peroxide, Liquid
or Solution, NOS
Waste Sodium Perchlorate
Waste Potassium Perchlorate
Waste Sodium Permanganate
Waste Potassium Permanganate
Waste Sodium Sulfide
Waste Potassium Sulfide
Waste Petroleum Oil, NOS
Waste Petroleum Oil, NOS
Waste Flammable Liquid, NOS
Waste Combustible Liquid, NOS
Waste Flammable Solid, NOS
Hazardous Waste, NOS
Organic Peroxide
Oxidizer
Oxidizer
Oxidizer
Oxidizer
Flammable Solid
Flammable Solid
Combustible Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Combustible Liquid
Flammable Solid
ORM-E
NA9183
UN1502
UN1489
UN 1503
UN1490
UN1385
UN1382
NA1270
NA1270
UN1993
NA1993
UN1325
UN9189
* Toxkity Characteristic constituent. Any waste that results in a TCLP extract 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 categories of hazardous waste.
2 NOS - Not otherwise specified.
3 A flammable liquid has a flash point below 100°F.
4 A combustible liquid has a flash point between 100°F and 200°F; only those materials with flash points below 140°F, however, are considered hazardous under
EPA regulations.
For further information call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline 1-800-424-9346
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