Disposal of Alconox Inc. Detergents

Q: What is the proper way to dispose of your detergents?  Are they drain safe?

A: Detergent disposal in a proper manner is an integral part of a robust cleaning program regardless of scale or industry.

Alconox Inc. detergents are biodegradable and without added softeners, brighteners, dyes or fragrances.  This ensures a free-rinsing, residue-free cleaning process.  Our detergents between pH 2 and pH 12.5 are all classified as non corrosive based on 40 CFR 261.22.  (As a matter of comparison, common household toilet cleaners can be as low as ph 1 and oven cleaner can be as high as ph 13-14.)   Overall, the Alconox Inc. detergent portfolio is safe to go to drain.

As a global distributor of detergents, covering many thousands of municipalities, we certainly recommend reviewing local regulations which may or may not be more stringent for the detergent disposal.  Review of our SDS and technical bulletins can assist your Environmental Health & Safety Manager, or equivalent, in making any necessary determinations.  Other considerations would include what residues are being removed as those may be the more concerning waste depending on industry/application.  We are involved in fields ranging from blood and protein residue removal, to radioactive decontamination.  It rarely is the aqueous detergent that is of concern.

Foaming is another aspect to monitor.  While certainly not hazardous, it may be unsightly and can best be resolved by controlling the flow of the detergent to waste.  This is especially true with our higher foaming detergents; used in manual cleaning including scrubbing, soaking and ultrasonic.

To request any Alconox Inc. detergents for free, please complete the questionnaire at Get Sample.  For more information about any one of our Alconox Inc. detergents, consult the technical bulletin for each product. Or click here to access each of our detergent’s Safety Data Sheets.

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