Back
to Reference
Back
to TR6 Page
Malcolm Walker wrote:
>
> On Fri, 17 Oct 1997, Jim Barbuscia wrote:
>
> > Speaking of nasty chemicals...
> > I just bought a 20 gal. parts washer from COSTCO and now
am wondering
> > what I should use in it for solvent?
> > Any one using one of these? What are you using?
>
> 'Varsol', an Esso product, works well. I'm not sure about
disposing it
> though :-)
>
> -Malcolm
Just about all of the chemical mixtures that have been used in hot or cold tanks are truly nasty and CAN NOT be disposed of legally by any means other than recycling or disposal as hazardous waste. And thats the mixtures in their unused state. Once they have been used you can add to the list of nastys heavy metals including, cadmium, chromium, lead, zinc, etc as well as grease and oil.
Do yourself a favor and don't get involved with this. Arrests of private citizens have been made for using gunk and other engine cleaning compounds (also witches brews of priority pollutants) on their car engines and following "label directions" indicating disposal as "spray on rinse off". A major lawsuit against a degreaser manufacturer is in progress in CA as a result of a Fish and Game officer catching a citizen doing this with the rinseate going into a storm drain and thence directly into a creek. The citizen said. "I was just following directions" The court agreed and instead went after the manufacturer who is facing possible fines of $25,000 dollars for each can of material sold with those directions. Caveat emptor.
Some aqueous high pH solvents and citrus based degreasers are available for use in these applications but you're still left with a hazardous waste due to metals contamination. And before considering disposing of these materials in a "midnight dumping" manner ask yourself how your wives, children and neighbors will look at you when they learn YOU are the one responsioble for contamination of a drinking water well or other local water supply. The solvents used in these products are the main players in such contamination world wide.
Best bet. Don't degrease at home! You're asking for trouble. Use your local machine shop after you've inquired into their disposal practices. Or, Use your local coin op car wash (no canned degreasers please) on the wheel (or engine) clean cycle first (uses alkaline degreasers) let soak a while and then use high pressure wash and rinse to blast away the loosened residue. These operations are usually plumbed to the sewer system and wastewater treatment facilities which can handle the high pH and grease and oils but are not designed to remove toxic organics (read solvent degreasers).
As for antifreeze, the haz waste collections offered to homeowners in most US areas are a good place to start. Also look to local auto repair shops or parts suppliers who often provide for disposal at a reasonable fee. Don't ever just pour this stuff out on the ground (animals like it because it has a sweet odor and taste but as stated in other posts is deadly). Two of the zoo raised California Condors released into the wild in the last couple of years have died as a result of drinking from a puddle of antifreeze poured onto the ground.
If no other options is available I reluctantly reccommend pouring it down your toilet except if you are on a septic tank (it will kill the useful bacteria in a septic system). At least then the antifreeze will find its way to a wastewater treatment plant where it can be easily biodegraded by secondary treatment processes. This is not an option for commercial operations however where recycling on or off site is now the standard and where most jurisdictions prohibit such disposal by commercial enterprises.
I will happily provide further information to anyone interested.
Deano
Environmental Compliance Officer
City of Santa Rosa
|
|
|