Technical Bulletin No. 0372: Characterization Of Wastes Generated In The Flexographic Printing Of Corrugated Containers

In proposing regulations to implement the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, EPA identified waste streams as candidates for process wastes considered hazardous; when the second list was proposed in 1980, corrugated container flexographic printing plants were converting to low-lead and chromium content inks which suggested that the listing of printing wastes was inappropriate. Shortly after that, the National Council initiated a flexographic ink waste sampling program to assemble a database to define the impacts of low-lead and chromium content ink use on flexographic printing waste characteristics. During the study, an array of raw inks, washwaters and sludges were characterized; the efficiency of flexographic washwater treatment systems were examined and experience with the reuse of flexographic washwater assembled. This bulletin contains the results of the study.