Publication Summary

If you′re a photo processor looking for practical environmental management and pollution prevention information, this booklet is for you. Photo processors across the state regularly generate wastes that are of concern to the environment. Silver found in used fixer, bleach-fixer, washless stabilizer and C-41RA bleach poses hazardous waste and water quality concerns. Silver has a very high aquatic toxicity and accumulates in the tissue of aquatic organisms. Because of concerns with silver, used photo processing solutions containing more than five parts per million silver are a state and federal hazardous waste. Many local sewer authorities have even stricter silver limits. With thousands of businesses in Washington State generating silver-bearing wastes, it′s important that each one do their part to manage these wastes correctly and keep them out of the soils and waters of the state.