Your machinery, electrical and electronic equipment business may produce solvent emissions from products that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
VOCs are organic chemicals that easily vaporise at room temperature. Organic solvents can cause significant air pollution, land contamination and water pollution.
What are solvents?
Organic solvents are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that easily vaporise at room temperature and may be harmful if inhaled. They are used for a variety of purposes including:
- dissolving materials
- cleaning
- coating and printing
- manufacturing products such as paints, adhesives and inks.
If you use organic solvents, you may require an environmental permit (England and Wales) or a pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit (Northern Ireland and Scotland) from your environmental regulator or local council. If you have a permit you must comply with its conditions, which may require you to reduce or control your solvent emissions.
For further information on who needs a permit see our guidance on solvent emissions in:
England on Business Link: Environmental permits for solvent emissions
Northern Ireland on NIBusinessInfo: Pollution prevention and control permits for solvent emissions
Scotland on Business Gateway: Pollution prevention and control permits for solvent emissions
Wales on Business.Wales.gov.uk: Emvironmental permits for solvents emissions
You must not allow solvents to enter surface water drains, watercourses, the ground or groundwater. This causes pollution and you could be prosecuted.
See our guidance on water pollution in:
England on Business Link: Preventing water pollution
Northern Ireland on NIBusinessInfo: Preventing water pollution
Scotland on Business Gateway: Preventing water pollution
Wales on Business.Wales.gov.uk: Preventing water pollution
If you intend to discharge solvents to the foul sewer, you must have an authorisation from your local water and sewerage company or authority.
See our guidance on trade effluent in:
England on Business Link: Discharging trade effluent
Northern Ireland on NIBusinessInfo: Discharging trade effluent
Scotland on Business Gateway: Discharging trade effluent
Wales on Business.Wales.gov.uk: Discharging trade effluent
You must not use solvents containing ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
Solvents which contain fluorinated gases (F-gases) that have a high potential to cause global warming are restricted. You must never allow F-gas solvents to vent directly to the air or be discharged directly into drains.
If you operate equipment that contains F-gas solvents you must recover the solvents properly during servicing, maintenance and at the end of the equipment's life. This must be done by someone with the correct qualifications.
See our guidance on ODS and F-gas solvents in:
England on Business Link: Solvent cleaning: F-gas and ODS controls
Northern Ireland on NIBusinessInfo: Solvent cleaning: F-gas and ODS controls
Scotland on Business Gateway: Solvent cleaning: F-gas and ODS controls
Wales on Business.Wales.gov.uk: Solvent cleaning: F-gas and ODS controls
Ensure that you allow sufficient space for solvents to be delivered, removed and transported around your site.
Mark transport routes clearly through your site and check regularly that there are no obstacles or sources of ignition.
Install appropriate secondary containment systems, such as bunds, to prevent spills contaminating the land or polluting water.
Keep solvent containers closed when you are not using them. This will minimise emissions evaporating into the atmosphere.
Locate your pipework, secondary containment and drainage systems where they can be cleaned and maintained easily, to minimise the risk of damage.
Cover your solvent storage area to prevent weather conditions affecting your containers or containment systems.
Avoid using underground storage tanks (USTs) for solvents. If you already store solvents in USTs, contact your environmental regulator for advice.
Check the condition of your solvent containers regularly.
Consider installing a leak detection system for your storage tanks, containers and pipework.
Pour and use solvents only in designated areas that are well ventilated, well marked and have appropriate secondary containment systems.
Keep a spill kit or other pollution control equipment on site, for example absorbents to soak up spills and drain mats to seal drains.
Only buy as much solvent as you need. Keep records of the amount you bought, where you bought it and where it’s stored.
Ensure that your supplier provides an up-to-date safety data sheet (SDS).
Use the SDS to ensure the solvent is used safely. Check that your employees are aware of and understand the information in the SDS, that they know where the data sheets are kept and that they can access them easily in an emergency.
Place all cloths and rags or any other material contaminated with solvents in a closed metal container after use.
Ask your solvent supplier if they offer a solvent reclamation service. This can reduce the amount you spend on solvents.
Review the solvents that you store and use on site regularly to determine if lower VOC alternatives can be used instead.
For further information on preventing and minimising the impact of leaks and spills on the water environment see our guidance on water pollution in:
England on Business Link: Preventing water pollution
Northern Ireland on NIBusinessInfo: Preventing water pollution
Scotland on Business Gateway: Preventing water pollution
Wales on Business.Wales.gov.uk: Preventing water pollution
