United Stales
Environmental Protection
Agency
&EPA
Office of
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
DIRECTIVE NUMBER:
Triple Rinsing of Containers
APPROVAL DATE:
EFFECTIVE DATE:
ORIGINATING OFFICE
El FINAL
D DRAFT
LEVEL OF DRAFT
3A — Signed by AA or DAA
H B — Signed by Office Director
DC — Review & Comment
REFERENCE (other documents):
WER OS WER OS WER
DIRECTIVE DIRECTIVE Dl
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PART 261 SUBPART A - GENERAL DOC: 9441.10(83)
Key Words: Containers
Regulations: 40 CFR 261.7
Subject: Triple Rinsing of Containers
Addressee: William R. Shocklee, President, Tri-Rinse, Inc., P.O. Box 15150,
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
Originator: John H. Skinner, Director, Office of Solid Waste
Source Doc: #9441.10(83)
Date: 12-13-83
Summary:
Empty containers are divided into two groups: those which formerly con-
tained acutely hazardous wastes and all others. For the latter group, there is
no specific requirement for rinsing; the regulation merely requires that the
waste be removed in its normal manner, whether pouring, pumping, aspiring—and
that no more than 2.5 centimeters (or equivalent weight) of residue remain for
the container to be considered "empty." However, for containers that formerly
held acutely hazardous wastes, triple rinsing or its demonstrated equivalent is
required as per §261.7(b)(3).
' A suitable solvent for the hazardous material must be used according to
the regulation. Such emptying, if done properly, does not constitute treatment,
and thus a permit is not required. However, whatever residue remains in the
"empty" container is no longer considered to be a hazardous waste.
RCRA is intended to be a State-operated program. Therefore, where the
State has been given the authority by EPA, it is the State regulations that
apply. State rules may be more stringent than Federal rules; therefore, each
State where the rinsing process may be used must be contacted to determine its
position on empty containers.
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9441.10 (83)
GEC I
•Jr. William 3. S'nocklee
prosiaent
Tri-Rinse, Inc.
?.O. Box 15150
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
Dear Mr. Shoc!\le«:
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oc s
r'".o r-f-"-3ror.c'."l rojul-Ttion/ in i^iiin; .;'.-.•» or-.-jf c ) "train -•»;•••; ,
Jiv'.o-->a o<^ntJirjor:i into tvo jr^ups: .-';,..,;-;- •/-\.c.". -'or-,oriv cor- ^ m-jo
".cuzoi/ na^aracu:> J.T.SCOS/ :mu ai1. c-^l.^-". ':-.- -~- L.-*-fr ;nu;3,
!:"srrt n no .''mcirii: r^q'jirerr.ent ^cr r\ -i -. •>. i,< • >-_•.,? r^-vjin ti^n
-itT'il/ r^ruires that tn* wa«ste Jo r*?oov--"t in ^-- n^r-^al --Tnner,
^hatGVfsr tliat ia— nourin'j, puntpinq, .T5pirat-.inrj~.Tnfl r.."\at no
nor^ tnan 2.5 cantirneters (ono incn) or r-??icju« r""->in (n orri'-r
tor tlio contiinar to So con3id<*r*?'J -i«j "^Tjrv* ) . •;••;' ;r»vocr ror
containers that fornerly Held acu-aly hararcous /^:;"t«?3, cripl'»
rinsing (or its demonstrated equivalent) is rn^uir-id ( i-ee <\i) c?*i
261.7(t>) (3) ) . Tho regulation further states that A suitaolV
solvent, for the particular material, must be used. Your process
and equipment appear to oe capaole ot nieetin.3 this roquiranent.
Uhon we proposed and then issued this regulation, we indicated
that <»ucn enptyincj, or triple rinsing, did not constitute treatment,
and thus, a pormit ig not required. Sinew the solvent night vary
according to tha former contents of the containers, a priori
approval of a specific solvent/process is not possible. Your
equipment, if the correct solvent is used, would accomplish the
triple rinsing. A3 stated in the regulations, whatever residue
remains in the "empty" container is no longer considered to he a
hazardous waste.
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