Solvent-contaminated wipes

Any solvent-contaminated wipe that meets one of the following criteria can qualify for the exclusions:

• Contains one or more of the F001 through F005 solvents listed in WAC 173-303-082 or the corresponding P- or U- listed solvents. These include:
  • Acetone 
  • Benzene
  • n-Butanol
  • Chlorobenzene 
  • Creosols 
  • Cyclohexanone 
  • Tetrachloroethylene 
  • 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 
  • Methyl isobutyl ketone 
  • Ethyl acetate 
  • 1,1,2- Trichloroethane 
  • Ethyl benzene 
  • 2-Ethoxyethanol 
  • Isobutyl alcohol 
  • Methanol 
  • Methyl ethyl ketone 
  • Toluene 
  • Methylene chloride 
  • Xylenes 
  • Trichloroethylene (reusable wipes only; disposable wipes contaminated with TCE do not qualify for the exclusion and must be managed as dangerous waste)
• Exhibits a dangerous waste characteristic of ignitability or toxicity found in WAC 173-303-090 resulting from a solvent listed in WAC 173-303-080.
• Exhibits the characteristic of ignitability (D001) due to non-listed solvent(s). 
• Designates only for dangerous waste criteria of state-only toxicity and persistence.

Solvent-contaminated wipes that do not qualify for the exclusions and must therefore be managed as dangerous waste are those that:

• Contain listed dangerous waste other than solvents.
• Exhibit the characteristic of toxicity, corrosivity, or reactivity due to non-listed solvents or contaminants other than solvents (such as rags contaminated with Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) metals).
• Exhibit the characteristic of ignitibility from a contaminant that is not a solvent. 
• Are disposable wipes that designate as dangerous waste due to the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE).

This means wipes and their containers cannot have extra liquid before laundering or disposal.

For example, you cannot have a puddle of solvent liquid in a container of wipes you plan to send for disposal or laundering. If you have extra liquid, then you need to drain, designate, and manage the liquid as dangerous waste.

“No free liquids” is defined in WAC 173-303-040 and is based on the EPA Methods Test 9095B (Paint Filter Liquids Test).

You may manage rags or wipes contaminated with free-flowing used oil under the used oil rules, as long as the used oil has not been removed or separated from the rag.

If you have drained, squeezed, centrifuged, or otherwise separated the used oil from your wipes, these wipes are considered solid waste and must be designated.

• Read our Used Oil publication for more information.

Paint- or stain-contaminated wipes may be eligible for the exclusions if they designate only for state criteria found in WAC 173-303-100 (such as WT02 for toxicity).

Wipes contaminated with listed or ignitable solvents that were then used to clean painted or stained surfaces may qualify if they: 

• Are not contaminated with a listed dangerous waste other than the listed solvents used to clean.
• Do not designate with a dangerous waste characteristic from non-solvent contaminants (like TCLP metals).

Wipes contaminated with paints or stains that have a solvent chemical as an ingredient will not meet the listing description under WAC 173-303-082 for F001-F005 listed waste. Therefore, these will not qualify under the exclusions.

Six of the F001-F005 ​listed solvents also exhibit the toxicity characteristic. Wipes contaminated with any of the following solvents are eligible for the exclusions:

• Benzene (F003 and D018)
• Chlorobenzene (F002 and D021)
• Creosols (F004 and D023, D024, and D025)
• Methyl ethyl ketone (F005 and D035)
• Tetrachloroethylene (F001/F002 and D039)
• Trichloroethylene (F001/F002 and D040) (NOTE: Only eligible if the wipe is reusable)

• Ecology does not allow disposal of solvent-contaminated wipes managed under these exclusions at a municipal landfill or non-dangerous waste incinerator. 
• Wipes that designate only for state criteria may be managed under these exclusions.