Waste Blanket Wash — Watch Out for Your Wash

Lastly, inspectors are finding problems with the management of used shop towels. Reusable or launderable towels that are contaminated with waste solvents that are classified as hazardous can be managed as nonhazardous if certain procedures are followed.

While each state has its own policy, two key requirements are that states require the towels to not be saturated and kept in closed containers. Some printers are not keeping the towels in closed containers and the towels at the bottom of the container are sitting in a pool of liquid, which is enough to fail the no saturation criteria. Disposable towels contaminated with solvents that would be classified as hazardous must be managed as a hazardous waste and cannot be simply thrown away as trash.