TIPS: Cleaning & Degreasing
Pollution Prevention Checklist

PROCESS ELIMINATION

• Question if parts need to be cleaned.
• Use easy-to-clean or no-clean rust inhibitor, lubricants, and so forth.
• Prevent parts from getting dirty.
• Purchase clean input stock.

PROCESS SUBSTITUTION

• Use blast cleaning instead of solvent.
• Use brushing, wiping, and so forth.

INPUT MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION

• Use aqueous-based cleaner.
• Use solvent with a low vapor pressure and high flash point.
• Use citrus or terpene cleaners.

WASTE REDUCTION

• Use lids on solvent cleaning vessels.
• Use air-lock vapor degreaser.
• Reduce drafts to minimize evaporation.

IN-PROCESS RECYCLING

• Use counter-current rinsing.
• Skim/filter and reuse aqueous cleaner.
• Reuse solvent by installing filtration or distillation units.
• Consider installing a bioremediation parts washer that uses enzymes to eat oil and grease.

WASTE SEGREGATION

• Segregate solvents to allow recycling.
• Keep solvents out of used oil.
• Keep fuel, brake fluid, and so forth out of solvents to keep them from becoming hazardous.
• Keep solvents out of aqueous cleaners.

MAINTENANCE / HOUSEKEEPING

• Use secondary containment for solvent storage.
• Implement a maintenance program to fix and prevent leaks.

PROCEDURES / SCHEDULING

• Increase drain time to reduce dragout.
• Orient parts to reduce dragout.

EQUIPMENT LAYOUT / PIPING / AUTOMATION

• Install sliding lids on solvent tanks.
• Increase the freeboard height to significantly reduce solvent loss to the air.
• Install automatic parts lift on vapor degreasers.
• Use drain racks to reduce dragout.
• Install rotating racks to drain parts.
• Install refrigerated coils on the freeboard above the primary condenser coils.

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