PARTNERS FOR A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT

A partnership of local governments and businesses to encourage
and recognize environmental achievements.

303-786-PACE(7223)
www.pacepartners.com

Printing

Welcome

Program Overview

Certified Businesses

Resource Sheets

Pollution Issues

Annual Reports
& Newsletters

Training and Test
for Surface Cleaners
and Pressure Washers

Print Shops

Print shops can generate significant quantities of air pollutants and hazardous wastes through the use of inks, fountain solutions, and solvents used to clean presses. There are over 70 printers in the County, with about 45 shops in the city of Boulder.

Sources of Pollution from Print Shops

Printing consists of four general processes: imaging, plate-making, printing, and finishing. The waste streams associated with these processes and the pollution prevention alternatives are listed below.

Waste Stream	Health/Environmental Concerns	Pollution Prevention Alternative
photographic imaging - film - fixer solution	silver contamination of water solid waste	-use computerized imaging to eliminate need for film, fixer, and developer -recover silver from film and fixer -manage film inventory to eliminate waste from out-of-date supplies
paper, printing plates	solid waste	-recycle off-site
inks	may contain: - VOCs which contribute to smog - heavy metals or other hazardous chemicals which may have environmental and health concerns	-use inks with lower VOCs (vegetable-based or soy-based) -manage inventory to avoid expired inks -centralize responsibility for mixing and distributing inks -train press operators to avoid over-mixing and overuse of inks -reuse and/or recycle inks
blanket and roller washes (solvents)	may contain: - VOCs which contribute to smog - hazardous chemicals which may have environmental and health concerns	-recycle on-site -use low VOC solvents -keep lids on tight
isopropyl alcohol, fountain solutions	may contain: - VOCs which contribute to smog - other hazardous chemicals which may have environmental and health concerns	-reduce or eliminate isopropyl alcohol -use alcohol replacement which does not contain other VOCs or HAPs
cleaning rags	may be saturated with solvents from cleaning presses	-use industrial laundering facility
finishing (binding)	solid waste	-recycle paper -use water-based adhesives -use recyclable shipping materials

Pollution Prevention Successes

Examples of pollution prevention measures implemented by print shops participating in the PACE program are listed below. Pollution prevention has resulted in significant cost savings for print shops. In addition, many shops have mentioned reduced worker sick days and improved worker health as a result of reduced VOC emissions from washes and isopropyl alcohol.

Waste Stream	Pollution Prevention Measure	Benefits
blanket wash (solvents)	switched to water miscible washes	improved worker health and safety, reduced emissions of VOCs
reduced or eliminated isopropyl alcohol (IPA) from fountain solution	upgraded rollers monitor fountain solution chemistry	improved worker health and safety, reduced emissions of VOCs, lower costs
inks	use strong, soy-based ink	improved worker health and safety, reduced solid and hazardous waste as a result of increased ink consistency and reduced set-up, reduced ink purchases resulting in lower costs

Information

Printing Certification Criteria

Emissions inventory worksheet for VOCs (.xls)

Businesses

Certified Printing Businesses