Shop Towels
Auto Body Shops
Pollution Prevention Guide
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Disposable and reusable shop towels (includes rags and wipes) are commonly
used in auto body shops to wipe off parts and cleanup spills and leaks. When
used, the towels can take on the character of the fluid they came in contact
with. If the fluid is hazardous, then the towels can become hazardous. Disposable
towels that have not been contaminated with hazardous materials can still be
a waste problem: the large volume of waste that ends up in a solid waste landfill
takes up valuable and expensive disposal space.
To reduce towel wastes:
- Avoid using hazardous materials to keep used towels from becoming
hazardous waste (discussed in Section 8 - Automotive
Fluids)
- Purchase reusable towels
Reusable Shop Towels
Purchasing reusable cloth shop towels can help you reduce your purchasing
and waste disposal costs. The benefits include:
Reusable towels can be washed by a commercial laundry facility and returned
to you to be reused.
Towels contaminated with hazardous materials are typically considered "recycled"
by state and federal regulations and not a hazardous waste as long as they are
laundered.
A disadvantage of using reusable towels is that the towels may create a fire
or explosion hazard if they came in contact with a flammable liquid or are not
stored properly in closed containers.
The following series of questions will help you prevent pollution in shop towel
management:
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Shop Towels
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YES |
NO
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| 1) Do you practice good housekeeping? Good
housekeeping practices will reduce the number of towels needed to clean
up your shop. Use drip trays and pans to keep materials from reaching the
floor. Allow cleaned parts to drip dry in the parts washer before using
them. |
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| 2) Does your shop purchase paper towels?
To reduce waste and save money, use only reusable rags and wipes provided
through a reputable industrial laundry and adhere to any requirements of
the laundry for reuse. |
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| 3) Do you use hazardous fluids in your shop?
To prevent your shop towels from becoming potential hazardous waste,
avoid hazardous products such as those that contain chlorinated compounds
or have a low flash point (check the Material Safety Data Sheet). |
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| 4) Do you keep towels that have come in contact with
hazardous fluids separate from towels that have not? To help
reduce the amount of hazardous waste you have to dispose of (if you do not
launder the towels), store hazardous waste-contaminated towels separately.
Store soiled towels in closed containers that are clearly marked "soiled
shop towels only." And, do not pour liquids onto used towels -- this may
create a fire or explosion hazard. |
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Fact sheet 15 of 18
Montana State University Extension
Service
Pollution Prevention Program Taylor Hall Bozeman, Montana 59717
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