Shop Towels

ECAR Fact Sheet for Minnesota
Shop Towels

Regulations
Self-Audit Checklist
Best Management Practices
Contacts
Related ECAR Fact Sheets
Other Relevant Resources

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The following fact sheet was prepared by the ECAR Center staff. Once prepared, each ECAR Center fact sheet undergoes a review process with the applicable state environmental agency(ies). You can check on the status of the review process here. Please read the disclaimer on the status page. While we have tried to present a summary of the essential information on this topic, you should be aware that other items, such as local regulations, may apply to you.

What You Need to Know

Mercury, a highly toxic metal, is often found in hood or trunk light switches. Liquid mercury and mercury vapor are hazardous to both humans and the environment. Once released into the environment, mercury cannot be eliminated - it will stay in the environment forever. Just one-half pound of mercury, the amount found in approximately 450 trunk or hood lights, has the potential to contaminate one-half million northern pike. Already, 94 percent of Minnesota lakes have mercury contamination at a level that limits human fish consumption. Removal of mercury switches from vehicles before crushing is an important part of managing your hazardous wastes.

This fact sheet will help you recognize some of the most common materials that can turn shop towels into hazardous wastes.

Regulations

Dirty shop towels are exempt from hazardous waste regulations if they are managed correctly and picked up for laundering by an industrial laundry service that is connected to a local wastewater treatment facility. All shop towels/solvent wipers are eligible for this exclusion if the wipers contain no free liquids (completely wrung out) and are sent to a commercial laundry that is subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act. However, specific handling regulations depend on the type of substance contained in the towel. See the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Fact Sheet on Managing Towels, Wipes and Sorbents.

If sorbents are picked up weekly or more often, keep a chart of pick-up dates and pounds picked up. (In this case, an accumulation start date and weekly container inspection is not necessary.)

All rags and soiled clothing that contain flammable materials must be stored and transported in fireproof containers, marked "Hazardous Waste - Solvent Sorbents [Towels/Wipes]."

If a shop towel service is not used, then you must determine if your dirty shop towels are hazardous or not before disposing of them. If the towels are hazardous, then you must manage them in accordance with hazardous waste regulations.

Whether you are sending the towels to be laundered or disposing of them as hazardous waste, you must remove free liquid by wringing. Reuse extracted liquid or manage it as hazardous waste.

Links to the Regulations. Use the following links to view the regulations pertaining to shop towel management and storage.

Minnesota Hazardous Waste Rules

Federal EPA Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste

Self-Audit Checklist

When an inspector comes to your facility, there are certain things he or she checks to see if you are in compliance with environmental regulations. It makes good sense for you to perform a "self-audit" and catch and correct problems before they result in penalties. Also, there are some compliance incentives associated with self-audits (see Audit Policy Page).

Use the following list to audit your handling of used shop towels.

Shop towels are exempt from regulation only if they are managed correctly and picked up for laundering by an industrial laundry service that is connected to a publicly owned treatment works facility (POTW). Verify that dirty shop towels are managed correctly and picked up for laundering by an industrial laundry service that is connected to a publicly owned treatment works facility (POTW). You must manage your shop towels in accordance with the hazardous waste requirements until they leave your operations.
Do your shop towels contain free liquids? If so, there is no hazardous waste exemption for rags or soiled clothing contaminated beyond saturation.

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Most regulations tell you what you have to do to be in compliance, but they don't explain how to do it. That's where "best management practices" come into play. BMPs are proven methods that help you to get into compliance and stay there. The following BMPs are recommended for handling used shop towels.

Avoid using disposable towels. Use cloth towels from an industrial laundry service that is discharging its wastewater into a public sewer system.
Do not dispose of solvents by pouring them onto rags or into containers of used shop towels.
Do not throw dirty wipes, paper towels or rags into the dumpster if they have come into contact with hazardous solvents or waste.
Do not dispose of dirty shop towels in vehicles to be crushed or shredded.
Keep waste shop towels in a closed, fireproof metal container labeled "Used Shop Towels."
To reduce the risk of spontaneous combustion when storing shop towels in metal cans, keep the towels moist with water.
Examine your equipment cleaning practices to identify opportunities to reduce their frequency, thereby reducing the number of towels, wipes, or rags that are used for this purpose.
Maintain records of analytical waste determinations and disposal receipts for at least 3 years.

Contacts

For more information, contact the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Regional Office closest to you:

Northeast Region (Duluth) 218-723-4660.
North Central Region (Brainerd) 218-828-2492.
Northwest Region (Detroit Lakes) 218-847-1519.
Southwest Region (Marshall) 507-537-7146.
Southeast Region (Rochester) 507-285-7343.

*Report petroleum and fuel spills of five or more gallons, and any other chemical spill (including lead-acid batteries) which may cause pollution, to the State Duty Officer at 651-649-5451 or 1-800-422-0798.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

Hazardous Waste.

Other Relevant Resources

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