CANADIAN PRINTING INK MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION

STATEMENT ON SCRAP INK From time to time, printing ink manufacturers must deal with customer requests to return unused or contaminated printing inks to the supplier rather than dispose of the product themselves. Under the Ontario Ministry of Environment (OME) Regulation 347 (amended October 28, 2000), every business producing waste must be licensed with the OME as a registered waste generator. For further information please visit the Ontario Ministry of Environment website at http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/land/HWIN.htm Printing ink which has been removed from the ink fountain is often contaminated with fountain solution or paper dust or reducing solvents or other press additives which affect the ink's physical properties, hue and consistency and make it potentially unusable by the printer. At this point the unusable ink becomes a waste product which must be disposed of in a proper and legal manner. Such waste ink is technically a "liquid industrial waste" under the criteria of OME Regulation 347 (amended). An OME registered waste carrier is required to remove this waste and ensure that it is taken to a certified disposal facility. This removal and disposal mechanism must be well documented to the government to ensure that the waste was disposed of in a proper manner. However, if the printing ink is substandard or off-spec, the customer can return the product to the manufacturer for modification into a useable product. This process becomes complex for the printer when they ask a printing ink company to take back waste ink and "dispose" of it. Legally, the printing ink company must be licensed with the OME to haul this waste. Most printing ink companies are not registered waste-haulers and cannot legally remove waste for the printer. The second complication occurs when the printing ink is in a condition such that the printing ink manufacturer cannot clean it up. An example of this is a sheetfed ink containing ink skin. Due to the polymeric nature of this contaminant, ink skin cannot be re-dissolved into the ink. Re-milling breaks the particles into smaller pieces. The particles can only be removed by filtration. Unfortunately, if there are many particles in the ink, the filters used in the filtration process clog quickly and it becomes almost impossible to remove all of the particles efficiently and cost effectively. At this point the ink cannot be purified and becomes a waste that was not generated by the ink manufacturer. This situation is even more complex with solvent-based liquid inks due to the toxicological and flammability properties of these inks. Waste will always be a factor to deal with and control. It is in the best interest of all parties involved that the generation of waste be controlled by the printer through good housekeeping practices and refined ink estimating calculations. Printers should consult a registered waste carrier for classification and disposal of their waste. C.P.I.M.A. member companies are willing to provide sound advice to help printers reduce and control the waste generated during the course of using their products. Reviewed: December, 2003

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