Esteemed colleagues,
How do you dispose of dirty solvent?
I cleaned by cogs and chain in citrus solvent. What should I do with the solvent/water/grime?
Thank you.
wmh
Depends on what you cleaned off your cogs and chain. The citrus solvent itself is okay to go down the drain, but it will depend on what you cleaned off as to wether this is ok or not.
Jim
P.S. Nice to see someone care about such things.
In the solvent is this:
Water
Citrus solvent
Road grime
Chain lube
.
This is a good question, and good of you to ask. Klein bicycle was socked with a substantial six-figure fine years ago for toxic waste disposal.
Anyway, disposing of the fluid and matter in kitty litter as an absorbant and then dispose of that in an approved waste container for retrieval by a dumpster company, waste management, etc.
Sounds like a late night walk with the dog and an old water bottle filled with the gunk. Then just pick a neighbor’s yard you don’t like.
I’m currently swapping parts onto a new frame, brakes, der’s, cranks, all get nice and clean on the pots and pan cycle of my dishwasher!! and it cleans itself up afterwards! Spray on some degreaser and fill the cup with detergent and your cranks will be lemony fresh and virtually spotless. DO NOT do this when Mom/Wife/or live in GF is around…
“Anyway, disposing of the fluid and matter in kitty litter as an absorbant and then dispose of that in an approved waste container for retrieval by a dumpster company, waste management, etc.”
I’m sure you have a better handle on the bike end of things than I do, but if we tried that approach in manufacturing we’d be fined out of business.
The solvent in question “sounds” biodegradable but prior lubes used on the chain may not be. I’m sure EPA thugs won’t come crashing down on your head for doing as Tom suggested, but in MFG if the materials that are being put into the solvents or coolants are not Bio safe, say something like lead, we have to have appropriate disposal protocol even if the coolant or solvent is bio.
Just something to keep in mind.
Other options may be county disposal that takes, paints, solvents etc. Also some professional services may take it for free. But I’m guessing Tom’s approach is perfectly safe.
~Matt
As fate would have it, City of Austin (where I live), has a facility to handle such substances.