The notified polymer will be imported as a component of printer ink in ready-to-use sealed containers for commercial printing. The sealed containers are designed to prevent release of contents during transport, installation and removal. In the event of a spill, the notified polymer is expected to be contained and collected with an inert absorbent material and disposed of in accordance with local regulations. The ink will be used on printing articles and the notified polymer, bound within the dried ink matrix, will share the fate of the article. It is anticipated that approximately half of these articles will be disposed of to landfill and the remainder will be recycled at the end of their useful lifetime. During the recycling process, waste paper will be repulped using a variety of alkaline dispersing and wetting agents, water emulsifiable organic solvents and bleaches. Aqueous wastes containing these agents are expected to be sent to sewage treatment plants (STPs) for processing. In sewage treatment plants, most of the notified polymer is expected to partition to sludge and sediments as it has high molecular weight. Therefore, the notified polymer is not expected to be released at ecotoxicologically relevant concentrations. Due to its high molecular weight, the notified polymer is not expected to readily cross biological membranes and, therefore, bioaccumulation is not expected. The proportion of the notified polymer that is adsorbed to STP sludge will be disposed of to landfill or may be used for soil remediation, where it is expected to slowly degrade to form water and oxides of carbon. Therefore, based on its assumed low hazard, the notified polymer is not considered to pose an unreasonable risk to the environment.
The notified polymer will be imported as a component of printer ink in ready-to-use sealed containers for commercial printing. The sealed containers are designed to prevent release of contents during transport, installation and removal. In the event of a spill, the notified polymer is expected to be contained and collected with an inert absorbent material and disposed of in accordance with local regulations. The ink will be used on printing articles and the notified polymer, bound within the dried ink matrix, will share the fate of the article. It is anticipated that approximately half of these articles will be disposed of to landfill and the remainder will be recycled at the end of their useful lifetime. During the recycling process, waste paper will be repulped using a variety of alkaline dispersing and wetting agents, water emulsifiable organic solvents and bleaches. Aqueous wastes containing these agents are expected to be sent to sewage treatment plants (STPs) for processing. In sewage treatment plants, most of the notified polymer is expected to partition to sludge and sediments as it has high molecular weight. Therefore, the notified polymer is not expected to be released at ecotoxicologically relevant concentrations. Due to its high molecular weight, the notified polymer is not expected to readily cross biological membranes and, therefore, bioaccumulation is not expected. The proportion of the notified polymer that is adsorbed to STP sludge will be disposed of to landfill or may be used for soil remediation, where it is expected to slowly degrade to form water and oxides of carbon. Therefore, based on its assumed low hazard, the notified polymer is not considered to pose an unreasonable risk to the environment.
PLC1346-FR-FINAL.DOCX