What's the Proper Disposal Process for MicroCare Solvents? Can They Be Recycled?

When disposing of MicroCare solvents, remember the solvents never wear out. Inside a vapor degreaser the solvent is automatically recycled, and can be used for hundreds or even thousands of cleaning operations. This is a major difference from aqueous cleaning, where the soaps and saponifiers are used only once.

Some locations now are offering a recycling service, which takes back your spent solvent and returns “reclaimed” solvent, similar to the service which was widely offered for CFC-113, HCFC-141b and other major solvents. MicroCare has a list of names of companies offering this service; contact MicroCare to see if there is a company in your area.

As for disposal, the fluids are generally shipped as “Non-Regulated/Non-Hazardous.” This would apply unless the user has introduced a RCRA hazardous material during use. Users should test the exhausted product to ensure proper RCRA classification for waste disposal and should check local, state, and federal requirements in determining disposition of spent product. Most spent solvent is incinerated in cement kilns; typically that service costs $150 per drum. Contact your hazmat disposal service for details; normally they will require a chemical analysis of the material to determine the exact chipping classification.

(Special note for visitors from outside the USA: “RCRA” is a U.S. hazmat handling law and obviously only applies within the USA.  For the rules in other countries contact your local hazmat disposal service.)