BOARD MEETING
DATE: January 12, 1996
AGENDA NO. 23
REPORT: Feasibility of Using Rule 1130 - Graphic
Arts Compliant Inks in the Flexographic Printing of Polyethylene
and Polypropylene Bags
SYNOPSIS: On September 8, 1995, as part of the public
hearing on proposed amended Rule 1130 - Graphic Arts, the Board
directed staff to conduct a technology assessment on the flexographic
printing of polyethylene and polypropylene bags and report our
findings at the January 12, 1996, Board meeting. This report provides
staff findings on the feasibility of using compliant inks in the
flexographic printing of polyethylene and polypropylene bags for
tortillas, produce (carrots), frozen foods, pharmaceutical products,
and manure. It also provides staff recommendations for further
rulemaking.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Receive and file this report
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
PL:JB:FL
Attachment
A. Key Contacts List
B. Flexographic Printing of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Bags
_____________________________________________________________________
In preparing this report, staff visited 21 facilities
printing the polyethylene and polypropylene bags in question.
Three of them are located in California but outside of the AQMD.
In addition, staff spoke with several printers located outside
of the AQMD to determine what ink systems and equipment they were
using, and to seven ink manufacturers to obtain information regarding
the compliant inks that are available for use.
This report concludes that both ink and add-on control
technologies exist today that allow flexographic printers to comply
with the 300 gram per liter VOC limit in Rule 1130 for printing
the polyethylene and polypropylene bags in question . Compliant
ink technology is in use within and outside of the AQMD while
add-on control technology is currently only in use outside of
the AQMD. In addition, this report identifies VOC RECLAIM, once
adopted, as a viable option for flexographic printers to achieve
compliance with AQMD requirements. As a result, no change is proposed
for the existing VOC limit of 300 grams per liter.
Staff will continue to work with this industry to assist printers in their efforts to achieve compliance.