The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has excluded solvent-contaminated wipes that are cleaned and reused (reusable wipes) from the definition of solid waste,¹ and solvent-contaminated wipes that are disposed of from the definition of hazardous waste (disposable wipes),² provided certain conditions are met. In so doing, both reusable and disposable wipes are excluded from regulation under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Subtitle C. In Arizona, these federal exclusions are incorporated by reference under Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-8-261 | View >

The rule became effective in Arizona when the State adopted the final rule in 2015.

Exclusion Conditions for Solvent-Contaminated Wipes (RCRA Subtitle C)

• Both reusable and disposable wipes must be placed in non-leaking, closed containers able to contain free liquids, and the containers must be labeled Excluded Solvent-Contaminated Wipes.
• Before solvent-contaminated wipes are transported, generators must ensure that the containers have no free liquids as determined by the Paint Filter Liquids Test (EPA Methods Test 9095B) | Learn More >
• A generator can accumulate solvent-contaminated wipes for up to 180 days before sending them for cleaning or disposal.
• Solvent-contaminated wipes must be managed only by facilities legally authorized to receive reusable and disposable wipes, such as industrial laundries or dry cleaners, municipal solid waste landfills, municipal waste combustor or other combustion facilities.
• Generators must document:
  • the name and address of the laundry, dry cleaner, landfill or combustor;
  • that the 180-day accumulation time limit is being met;
  • and the process the generator is using to meet the no free liquids condition.
• The exclusion consists of wipes that exhibit a hazardous characteristic resulting from a solvent listed in Part 261; wipes that exhibit only the characteristic of ignitability when containing one or more non-listed solvents; and wipes containing one or more F001–F005 solvents listed in 40 C.F.R. § 261.31 or the corresponding P- or U-listed solvents found in § 261.33, including:
  

  • Acetone	• Methylethyl ketone
  • Benzene	• Methylisobutyl ketone
  • n-Butanol	• Methylene choride
  • Chlorobenzene	• Tetrachloroethylene
  • Creosols	• Toluene
  • Cyclohexanone	• Trichloroethylene (for reusable wipes only)
  • Ethyl acetate	• Xylenes
  • Ethyl benezene	• 1,2-Dichlorobenzene
  • Isobutyl alcohol	• 1,1,2-Trichloroethane
  • Methanol	• 2-Ethoxyethanol

  For more details:
    • 40 C.F.R. § 261.31 | View 261.31 >
    • 40 C.F.R. § 261.33 | View 261.33 >
  
  
• The exclusion does not include:
  • wipes that contain listed hazardous waste other than solvents;
  • wipes that exhibit the characteristic of toxicity, corrosivity, or reactivity due to non-listed solvents or contaminants other than solvents;
  • disposable wipes that are hazardous waste due to the presence of trichloroethylene.

¹40 C.F.R. § 261.4(a)(26) | View 261.4(a) >
²40 CFR § 261.4(b)(18) | View 261.4(b) >