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Screenprinters and Environmental Questions
Information below provides a brief introduction to regulatory information and
requirements. It highlights environmental areas of concern to the majority of small and
medium-sized screenprinters in Minnesota. Additional requirements may also apply.
What can be sewered?
- NO PROCESS WASTEWATER CAN GO TO A SEPTIC SYSTEM WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL.
- Generally, photoprocessing chemicals provided the silver has been removed from the spent
fixer.
- Often the wastewater associated with screen reclamation. This tends to be the case with
wastewater where the solids (ink and screen emulsion) have been filtered out prior to
discharge. Check with your sewer authority first. In the Twin Cities metropolitan area,
contact the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MES) at 651-602-4703.
What about solvent and ink waste?
- Generally, it must be managed as a hazardous waste. Requirements exist for storage,
labeling, tracking, training and reporting depending on the total quality of hazardous
waste produced. A license may be required. In the Twin Cities area, contact your county
hazardous waste office (see back). In Greater Minnesota, contact your regional Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) (see back).
What about rags and wipes?
- Requirements will depend on what the solvent and ink contaminants are. Launderable
towels where solvent has been wrung out can go to a permitted commercial laundry facility.
For more information, call your county or MPCA as suggested above.
What about reporting air emissions?
- If your company uses less than 200 gallons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) a year,
most likely an air permit is not required. Check your material safety data sheets (MSDS)
and ask your supplier for assistance. Your company needs to keep records of quantities
used each month.
- If you use more than the above quantity, you can get assistance with possible permit
requirements by calling the Small Business Assistance Program at the MPCA at 651-282-6143
or 1-800-657-3938.
What about empty containers, fluorescent bulbs, oil waste?
- Contact your county or the MPCA (see back).
Have you checked for these metals in your inks (lead, cadmium, mercury or hexavalent
chromium)? If they are present, ask your supplier to provide inks that do not contain
these metals. Contact Lloyd Petrie, MPCA, at 651-296-8585.
Contact Information
Metropolitan Counties Environmental Offices
Anoka County 612-422-7093
Carver County 612-361-1800
Dakota County 612-891-7011
Hennepin County 612-348-8100
Ramsey County 651-773-4466
Scott County 612-496-8177
Washington County 651-430-6655
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
Small Business Assistance Program (statewide)
800-657-3938, or 651-282-6143
Brainerd 218-828-2492
Detroit Lakes 218-847-1519
Duluth 218-723-4660
Mankato 507-389-6713
Marshall 507-537-7146
Rochester 507-285-7343
More complete information about these topics or other environmental requirements
that may apply to your company can be obtained by calling the MPCA or your county. The Environmental
Guide for Small Businesses in Minnesota provides information to help small companies
with environmental requirements. You can access the Guide at www.pca.state.mn.
us/industry/sbeg/index.html.
You may also contact the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) at 612-624-1300
or 1-800-247-0015 to learn more about waste reduction opportunities for screenprinters or
for assistance with your waste management needs.
This outline of key environmental areas for small screenprinters has been provided by
the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) at the University of Minnesota. MnTAP
has industry specialists – including one for the printing industry – who help
individual Minnesota businesses at no cost to meet their environmental protection
challenges.
September 1999
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