This does sound environmentally very suspect but compared to industrial/commercial output of solvent vapours the amount of pollution this represents is irrelevant - even collectively for every leisure woodworker in the world, the amount would be insignificant on a global scale. This is going to horrify some people but a viable alternative approach for the typical small volumes of solvent we're talking about here is just to put it outside to evaporate (under cover as needed so pets etc. Never take chances with fire hazards protect yourself by using caution when disposing of rags and cloths. Make sure that the container is labeled properly and that it is legible for all workers. Things such as cleaning paintbrushes, thinning paint, removing paint, cleaning spots off wood, and restoring wood furniture can all be performed with the help of mineral spirits, which is why. To reduce the risk of fire: Dispose of flammable and combustible liquid wipes and refuse in closed metal containers. If you still want to get rid of it but aren't sure how Mineral spirits, also known as white spirit, or mineral turpentine, is a petroleum-based solvent that is widely used in different areas of woodworking. So as odd as it might seem residue like this is no more or less dangerous than any dirty paintbrushes or rollers, paper towels or wiping rags used in the painting or varnishing process, and of course most people wouldn't even think "toxic waste" when disposing of those. It is safe, but may or may not be legal depending on where you live and how OTT the safety regs are there (anyone living in California, we feel your pain) but it should be legal to do this everywhere because the residue can't be any more toxic than the original paint and/or varnish was. If you use the settling method you're left with a small amount of sludge in the bottom of the container (it can literally be just a spoonful or two from a large jar used to rinse brushes all year) which can be disposed of safely in your regular rubbish collection. There are two main ways to dispose of mineral spirits: through a professional services company or by Drain Solvent Plans (DSPs). To be frank though the volume is so low at that point that few would mind the waste of throwing it out, or otherwise disposing of it - see next point. If you never top up there will come a point when it becomes too dirty to continue to use (it will be in effect very dilute varnish) but even then, simply decanting to a fresh container and diluting with fresh spirits can be all that's needed for the gunk to settle out. In theory spirits can be kept going indefinitely this way. If anyone reading needs to do this on a larger scale see the pic posted at bottom. It usually will, then you can decant the 'clean' spirits off the top. Let dirty spirits sit in a jar for a while (a few days to a week or more) and see if the stuff will separate to a discrete layer on the bottom. In addition to the above, dissolved contaminants will usually settle out of solution over time. It has a little Vaseline, liquid paraffin (mineral oil) and various unknown lubricants dissolved in it from rinsing and cleaning of new and old tool parts and as far as I can tell it works just as well as fresh, clean spirits. I keep a jar of dirty spirits for precisely this reason, carefully labelled so I don't accidentally try to clean a brush in it. And I'm now to thinking: isn't any method that washes the oil/grease down the drain more environmentally problematic than the oil recycling centers? (I'm not taking the solvents into consideration, though of course they affect the calculus.Local regulations about how to dispose of small quantities of solvent vary widely, so expect that Answers may be only guides to how you might be able to do it where you live.Ĭontaminated spirits is still potentially useful as-is for certain 'dirty jobs' like degreasing and cleaning up of old tools, engine parts etc. for a first wash, so I'lll keep using it.Īnyway, at the rate I'm going, it should be a long time before I have an appreciable quantity of the stuff. is pretty equivalent to motor oil, right? The remaining black solvent I regard as usable, esp. I guess I'll just let this stuff accumulate a bit, maybe in a plastic container, then take it in to recycle-chain grease, etc. I did, however, separate all of the old oil-crud-gunk out. In addition, other hazardous materials, such as turpentine or mineral spirits, are required for clean up. Products,Thermometers, and Thermostats Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Mineral Spirits Moth Balls. Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste Properly. Turns out that the blackness wasn't just particulates, as the filtering did nothing for the color. CONTACT INFORMATION: Disposal hours are listed below. Update: Per SanRensho's advice, I tried a paper filter on my remaining black solvent.
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