Paper Industry 51*70 Industry Overview Not all pulp and paper mills or converting operations generate hazardous waste. If, however, your facility uses strong acids and bases, toxic organic chemicals, paints and adhesives, ink, or solvents, the waste associated with using these materials 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. The paper industry is composed of several sectors, including: • Pulp and paper mills, which produce mechanical, thermomechanical, and chemical pulps and process these pulps to form paper, paperboard, or building papers • Converting operations, which manufacture boxes, tablets, and other finished paper products. Hazardous Wastes from the Paper Industry Pulp is made by mechanically or chemically separating the fibers in wood or other cellulose materials from nonfibrous material. In the kraft pulping process, used to make most chemical pulp, a solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide dissolves the nonfibrous materials. The pulp is then bleached if white paper is being produced. Several chemicals can be used for bleaching, including chlorine gas, sodium hydroxide, calcium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium peroxide. After any fillers and coloring materials are added, the pulp slurry is made into paper. Certain coatings can also be applied to the paper. The large-volume wastes produced by the paper industry are not often classified as hazardous under RCRA. Some wastewaters and wastewater treatment sludges might fail the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test due to the presence of organic constituents such as chloroform or trichloroethylene. Several lower volume hazardous wastes are generated, including: Spent halogenated solvents used in degreasing Corrosive waste generated from the use of strong acids and bases Paint waste containing solvents and paint waste with heavy metals Ink waste, which can include solvents, metals, or ignitable materials Petroleum distillates from cleanup operations. Spills of hazardous substances might also generate RCRA- regulated hazardous waste. Certain paper manufacturing facilities have associated research laboratories, which might produce a variety of hazardous wastes. Table 1 lists some typical processes/ operations that might produce hazardous waste. Table 2 lists Department of Transportation (DOT) shipping descriptions (required on the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest) for a number of wastes that might be generated by the paper industry. Table 1 and Table 2 are not comprehensive lists. If you do not find your waste here but suspect it is hazardous, contact your EPA Regional office or state hazardous waste management agency for additional information. Waste Minimization 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: • 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-90-0270 Printed on recycled paper ------- Table 1 Typical Paper Industry Operations: Materials Used and Hazardous Wastes that Might be Generated Waste Type SPENT SOLVENTS AND Carbon Tcunchloride* Mcthylcnc Chloride Telrachlorocthylenc* 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane Trichlorocthylcne* Chloroform* Benzene* Bthylene Dichloride* Chlorobenzcne* Methyl Ethyl Ketone* Process/ Materials Used General Types of Operation Waste Generated Chemical Pulping Acids/alkalies, lime, Acid/alkaline waste sulfurous acid, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide Bleaching Chlorine bleaches, sulfate Toxic wastewater and bleaches, chloroform, wastewater treatment solvents sludge Acid/alkaline waste Papermaking Pigments Wastewater treatment sludge Sizing and Waxes, glues, synthetic Toxic waste, including Starching resins, hydrocarbons wastewaters and sludges Coating, Inks, paints, solvents, Solvent waste Coloring, and rubbers, dyes Ink waste Dyeing Paint waste Ignitable waste Toxic waste Cleaning and Tetrachloroethylene, Solvent waste Degreasing trichloroethylene, Toxic rinse water * methylene chloride, trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride Table 2 Paper industry Waste Descriptions1 Designations/Trade Names DOT Shipping Name Hazard Class OTHER TOXIC OR IGNITABLE WASTES CONTAINING: Carbon Tetrachloride, Carbon Tet, Waste Carbon Tetrachloride ORM-A Tetrachloromethane Methylene Chloride, Dichloromethane Waste Dichloromethane ORM-A Tetrachloroethylene, Waste Tetrachloroethylene ORM-A Perchloroethylene, PCE 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,1-TCA Waste 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane ORM-A Trichloroethylene, TCE Waste Trichloroethylene ORM-A Chloroform Waste Chloroform ORM-A Benzene Waste Benzene (Benzol) Flammable Liquid2 Ethylene Dichloride, 1,2- Waste Ethylene Dichloride Flammable Liquid Dichloroe thane Chlorobenzene, Monochlorobenzene, Waste Chlorobenzene Flammable Liquid Phenyl Chloride Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Methyl Acetone, Waste Methyl Ethyl Ketone Flammable Liquid UN/NA ID Number UN1846 UN1593 UNI 897 UN2831 UN1710 UN1888 UNI 114 UN1184 UNI 134 UN1193 Mixed Spent Halogcnatcd Solvents Petroleum Distillates Meetco, Butanone, Ethyl Methyl Ketone, MEK, 2-Butanone Petroleum Distillates Hazardous Waste, Liquid, NOS3 Waste Petroleum Distillate ORM-E NA9189 Flammable Liquid UN 1268 Combustible Liquid4 UN1268 ------- I 3DIG L. (continued) Paper Industry Waste Descriptions1 Waste Type CORROSIVE WASTES Ammonium Hydroxide Hydrobromic Acid Hydrochloric Acid Hydrofluoric Acid Nitric Acid Phosphoric Acid Potassium Hydroxide Sodium Hydroxide Sulfuric Acid OTHER WASTES AND Paint Waste with Heavy Metals Corrosive Liquid Corrosive Solid Ignitable Wastes, NOS Hazardous Wastes, NOS Designations/Trade Names Ammonium Hydroxide, Aqueous Ammonia, Ammonia Water, Spirit of Hartshorn Hydrobromic Acid Hydrochloric Acid, Muriatic Acid Hydrofluoric Acid Nitric Acid, Aquafortis Phosphoric Acid, Orthophosphoric Acid Potassium Hydroxide, Caustic Potash Sodium Hydroxide Sulfuric Acid, Oil of Vitriol GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS Paint Waste with Heavy Metals Corrosive Liquids Corrosive Solids Ignitable Wastes, NOS DOT Shipping Name Waste Ammonium Hydroxide (containing not less than 12% but not more than 44% ammonia) Waste Ammonium Hydroxide (containing less than 12% ammonia) Waste Hydrobromic Acid Waste Hydrochloric Acid Mixture Waste Hydrochloric Acid Solution Waste Hydrofluoric Acid Waste Nitric Acid (over 40%) Waste Nitric Acid (40% or less nitric acid) 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 Hazardous Waste, Liquid or Solid, NOS Waste Corrosive Liquid, NOS Waste Corrosive Solid, NOS Waste Flammable Liquid, NOS Waste Combustible Liquid, NOS Waste Flammable Solid, NOS Hazardous Waste, NOS Hazard Class Corrosive Material ORM-A Corrosive Material Corrosive Material Corrosive Material Corrosive Material Oxidizer Corrosive Material Corrosive Material Corrosive Material Corrosive Material Corrosive Material Corrosive Material Corrosive Material ORM-E Corrosive Material Corrosive Material Flammable Liquid Combustible Liquid Flammable Solid ORM-E UN/NA ID Number NA2672 NA2672 UN1788 NA1789 UN1789 UN1790 UN2031 NA1760 UNI 805 UN1814 UN1813 UN1824 UN1823 UN1832 NA9189 UN.J760 UN1759 UN1993 UN1993 UN1325 UN9189 * Toxicity 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 name, hazard class, and UN/NA shipping ID number do not directly correspond to RCRA categories of hazardous waste. 2 A flammable liquid has a flash point below 100°F. 3 NOS -Not otherwise specified. 4 A combustible liquid has a flash point between 100°F and 200°F. ------- For further information call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline 1-800-424-9346 ------- |