The deadline is set and the clock is counting down. As of December 18, 2010, there will be no sales of non-compliant products. In other words, virtually all automotive refinish jobs are going to be either waterborne paint or another low-VOC solution. The new coatings are definitely lower in volatile organic compounds when compared to traditional products., but what’s left behind when you’re done painting still has to be disposed of properly.

I think the term waterborne can actually be misleading for some people. Anyone who has to work with these paints should be aware that they do still contain solvents, and these solvents must be disposed of properly. This is needed for both employee safety and to satisfy environmental concerns.

I’ve run into a few people who believe that you can dump the waste from these paints down the sink, and throw any solids in the garbage. Sorry, but it takes a lot more than the word “water” to make something flushable.

There’s a whole process that has to be used to dispose of the waste from waterborne and other types of low-VOC coatings. As with any disposal of potential pollutants, the process is heavily regulated. In order to show due diligence, there is a certain way that collision repair facility operators must do things. The first step in dealing with waterborne waste is discussing 
things with a waste management company and filling out the necessary paperwork for the Ministry of Environment (MOE). A Waste Profile form is completed to provide information about each type of waste. A representative sample of the waste is taken by your waste handler and analyzed to confirm the proper characterization of the waste. In other words, we run some tests and figure out the best way to dispose of it based on its composition.

After the testing and waste profile is done, you will complete a 
waste agreement with the hauler. It’s basically a written agreement 
with an approved hauler for the collection and management of
the waste that exempts selected retail motor vehicle service facility 
wastes from the normal registration and manifesting requirements.

When waste arrives at the transfer station, it must be tested again. This is to ensure that it is consistent with the original profile. If it isn’t, the generator will be contacted to resolve the differences. If it’s something that cannot be prevented, a new waste profile will have to be generated.

After testing, flocculated solids are disposed of in what is called a secure landfill site. It’s called secure because there is a liner beneath the site. Water that leaches through does not enter the water table, but is collected and sent for treatment.

In the case of water, such as that received from gun washers, it is sent for processing with the solids filtered out and disposed of in a secure landfill site, and the liquid processed in a wastewater treatment facility. In the case of a drum of waterborne wastewater, that perhaps accidentally has solvents mixed in, the waste is sent for incineration.

As you can see, there is a lot more to handling waterborne waste properly than simply dumping it down the drain or throwing it in the garbage. While it is true that low-VOC coatings are not as environmentally damaging as traditional solvent based ones, the services of a qualified waste handler are still required. CRM