Guides to pollution prevention : the commercial printing industry.

Includes bibliographical references

This guide identifies and analyses waste minimisation methodologies appropriate for commercial printers, who include lithographers, gravure printers, flexographers, and letterpress and screen printers. This information largely addresses the wastes and waste minimisation options for offset lithographers. A variety of wastes are generated during the printing operation. Waste that can be disposed of in trash include some waste paper; film; empty containers; used blankets; and damaged products and other items. These wastes result from image processing, plate making, proof making, printing, and finishing processes. Another form of waste - waste water - results from image processing, plate making, and printing processes. Equipment cleaning wastes and air emissions are other categories of waste. Much of the waste paper generated can be recycled. Reducing the generation of these wastes at the source, or recycling the wastes on or off site, will benefit commercial printers by reducing raw material needs, reducing disposal costs, and lowering the liabilities associated with hazardous waste disposal.