Manufacturing
2 min read
By Pedro Carreira
Updated 25 June 2026
Screen printers generate: ink waste (water-based inks are generally non-hazardous, plastisol and solvent inks are PIW), screen wash chemicals (potentially hazardous), emulsion waste, misprinted garments (textile recycling), and general waste.
Solvent-based ink waste requires EPA tracking. Monthly waste: $100–400.
Invest in ink recycling systems to reduce waste and chemical costs. Water-based inks are more environmentally friendly.
Key Numbers
- Monthly waste cost: $100–400
- PIW streams: Plastisol & solvent inks
- Misprinted garments: Textile recycling
- EPA max corporate fine (GED breach): ~$2.03 million
What You Need to Know
Screen printing is where the ink choice decides the whole waste profile. Water-based inks keep most streams simple; plastisol and solvent inks pull you into tracked, prescribed-waste territory. Sort by chemistry first:
| Stream | Classification & route |
|---|
| Water-based ink waste | Generally non-hazardous |
| Plastisol & solvent inks | PIW — requires EPA tracking |
| Screen wash chemicals | Potentially hazardous |
| Misprinted garments | Textile recycling |
Because solvent-based ink waste is prescribed industrial waste, it falls squarely under the Environment Protection (Management of Prescribed Waste) Regulations 2021, where serious breaches can attract EPA corporate fines of about $2.03 million. Bundle Waste is an independent broker: a free invoice audit confirms your PIW is tracked correctly and right-sizes the general and textile streams, comparing a network of providers — and we are paid only from the savings we find, up to 30%.
Related Resources
Related Questions
What waste does a Melbourne commercial laundry and linen hire generate?+
Commercial linen hire companies generate: damaged and retired linen (3–5% of stock annually = tonnes for large operators), lint (50–200kg/week), chemical waste from stain treatment, packaging, and trade waste. Retired linen goes to textile recyclers ($0–2/kg) or industrial rag conversion. Chemical spotting agents may be PIW. Monthly waste: $500–2,000. Trade waste fees: $500–3,000/year.
What waste management do laundries need?+
Commercial laundries generate: lint, chemical waste (perchloroethylene in dry cleaning — PIW), damaged textiles, packaging, wastewater. Perc is Category C prescribed waste requiring EPA tracking. Trade waste agreements mandatory. Monthly cost: $200–800.
How should a commercial laundry serving hospitality manage waste?+
Commercial laundries serving hotels and restaurants generate: lint (50–100kg/week for a mid-size operation), damaged linen (5–10% of stock annually), chemical waste, and packaging. Lint should be captured by industrial filters and disposed in general waste. Damaged linen can go to textile recyclers at $0–3/kg. Chemical waste from spotting agents may be PIW. Monthly waste: $300–800.
How should a commercial dry cleaner manage perchloroethylene waste?+
Perchloroethylene (perc) is a Category C prescribed industrial waste requiring EPA tracking. Storage: sealed containers in bunded area. Disposal: licensed hazardous waste collector at $5–15/litre. Modern alternatives (hydrocarbon, GreenEarth) generate less hazardous waste. Still-bottom residue from perc distillation is also PIW. Monthly waste: $100–500 for chemical streams alone.
How should a Melbourne commercial laundry for healthcare manage waste?+
Healthcare laundries process linen with potential biological contamination. Waste includes: heavily soiled/damaged linen (clinical waste classification if blood-saturated), lint, chemical waste, and packaging. Biological contamination assessment determines clinical vs general waste classification — this distinction can save $500–2,000/month. Monthly waste: $400–1,200. Comply with AS/NZS 4146 for laundry in health care.
See exactly what you are overpaying
Bundle Waste reviews your current waste invoices and benchmarks them against a network of Melbourne providers — free, with a written report in 5 business days. You will see what you pay now, where the hidden charges are, and the rate we can negotiate. You only pay from the savings we find: no savings, no fee.
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Updated 25 June 2026
