When looking for the ideal waste solvent recycling partner, there are many factors you may be considering. How will this partner manufacture equipment that cleans contaminated solvents while reducing your facility’s footprint? How can you reclaim and reuse solvents again and again in your own facility, without worrying about cost? Below is a list of characteristics to keep in mind as facilities continue to shift toward intelligent, needs-based waste solvent management.
1. Safety
Safety is paramount to any potential user of solvent distillation equipment. Solvent distillation equipment must be certified by ETL to UL 61010 and 2208 standards. The prospective partner should be focused on finding a safe location for the still, and consider fire code requirements, sources of ignition, ventilation needs, and the possibility of spills. Are the following minimum safety features present on the manufacturer’s machine?:
- Automatic shut down for high pot temperature for high condenser-water temperature to prevent solvent vapors from being lost.
- Installed equipment complies with compliance with the National Electrical Code.
- Interlocking features that prevent opening of the still until it has cooled to a certain temperature.
2. IoT-enabled Waste Solvent Recycling
Some solvent recyclers can alert you to when solvent supply is running low. This is accomplished using smart solvent recyclers that are wirelessly connected to the distributor network server. This takes the management of chemicals out of the way and reduces check-ins and offloads.
3. Full Service
While vitally important, your partnership shouldn’t end with a cost-effective solvent recycler. Look for a company that focuses on providing a better and more sustainable model for all waste removal and handling — not just waste solvent re-use and recycling. Your partner must be a registered carrier for the transport of waste products and adheres, for example, Oil Water Separation, Drain, Sump, Pit and Trench, Non-Hazardous Liquids and Sludge Disposal. Your partner should always seek to reduce the volume of and associated handling costs of waste. They should avoid unnecessary storage costs for both fresh solvent and waste solvent. It’s also equally important that the manufacturer can provide you with enough Environmental, Health and Safety managers to eliminate the waste streams and any EPA paperwork that may pile up. Look for the following:
- Customized pick-up schedules and vacuum truck services
- Parts washing services that may cut down on material costs
- Online waste profiling
- Reduces and simplifies EPA compliance reporting
- Treatment of your hazardous and non-hazardous waste on-site
- Pre-handling and transportation inspection
4. Made in the U.S.
If you need to service your recycler for any reason, it’s better to service from those who helped build it. Many solvent recycling companies import recycling systems and may not be as accessible or show the same commitment to customer care as someone within US borders.
5. Solvent-as-a-service
Waste solvent recycling on-site shouldn’t be limited to bigger facilities that require continuous processing. Traditional solvent waste recycling used to be limited to facilities with enough operations personnel to offset the hefty cost of a distillation unit on site. On-site solvent recycling must be cost-effective to the masses and needs-based. You solvent recycling partner should be capable of offering 24/7 continuous operation, batch processing on a lease, or a cost-per-use option.