Cleaning of Vehicles and Equipment Used to Transport Chemicals

KTTD (Chemical Tank Cleaning Association) is a non-profit association established on 1 June 2006 with the membership of 7 leading organisations in the logistics and chemical sectors. The legal framework governing the cleaning of chemical transport equipment is the "Tank Cleaning Facilities Notice" published in the Official Gazette numbered 27125 on 29 January 2009. The Chemical Tank Cleaning Association (KTTD) was designated as an "Authorised Organisation" by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry on 19 October 2009.   KTTD is Turkey's sole member of EFTCO (The European Federation of Tank Cleaning Organisations), which was established in 1999 and currently has member associations from twenty different European countries. The purpose of KTTD is to ensure environmentally responsible disposal and control of waste generated during the cleaning and reuse of equipment transporting all chemical products by road or combined transport. Equipment for transporting chemical products encompasses all equipment transporting chemical products by road or combined transport, including tank vehicles and containers, tankers, tank containers, isotainers and transport containers: IBC tanks, plastic drums and cans. In order for KTTD to carry out its economic activities, such as issuing Cleaning Certificates/Cleaning Labels, the Chemical Tank Cleaning Association Economic Enterprise was established on 9 March 2010. The web-based software system enabling Cleaning Stations to issue Cleaning Certificates/Cleaning Labels was prepared by KTTD under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanism officials and made available for use on 1 June 2010. The A4-sized Cleaning Certificate is used for tank vehicles and containers, tankers, tank containers and isotainers. The Cleaning Label is used for IBC tanks, drums and plastic containers similar to barrels. Failure to use Cleaning Certificates and Cleaning Labels or non-compliance with other conditions specified in the Notice results in penalties under articles 15 and 20 of the Environmental Law numbered 2872 being applied by the Ministry.

Considerations During the Cleaning Process:

• The cleaning method suitable for the type of chemical last transported in the vehicle or equipment is selected to ensure the vehicle or equipment is completely freed of chemical residues. The waste water generated as a result of these operations is treated at the facility's treatment plant or sent to the nearest treatment facility for disposal. The cleaning requirement for vehicles transporting the same product as the previous one or vehicles continuously transporting the same product is determined by the transporter and manufacturer based on the characteristics of the transported product and the transport vehicle. Cleaning is mandatory if the transported product changes.

Cleaning Facilities are Responsible for Having the Following Features:

1. Possessing the following technical equipment in accordance with Notice standards and ensuring cleaning with such equipment: (a) A steam boiler with sufficient capacity for the products to be cleaned. (b) A pump system providing pressurised hot and cold water support. (c) A rotating washing head that will enter inside the tank or container during the cleaning process and provide spherical washing. (ç) A dosing system for appropriate dosage of washing chemicals used during the cleaning process. (d) Water treatment systems for water used in the cleaning process (lime removal, disinfection and others). (e) Cleaning procedures containing important information from the technical data sheets of the products to be cleaned and specifying how these products are to be cleaned. (f) A treatment facility with characteristics sufficient to provide the discharge values specified by law. 2. Preparing and issuing the Cleaning Certificate with accurate information after cleaning, 3. Establishing a waste water treatment facility and treating waste water in accordance with the Water Pollution Control Regulation published in the Official Gazette numbered 25687 on 31/12/2004, 4. Disposing of waste generated in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Control Regulation, 5. Submitting all records and documents generated to the Ministry, 6. Making the necessary notification in accordance with the relevant articles of the Hazardous Waste Control Regulation in the cleaning of IBC and other transport containers and affixing the cleaning label determined by the Ministry to the cleaned container in a way that will not be lost. Although awareness regarding the cleaning of chemical transport equipment in our country is increasing day by day, it has not yet reached sufficient levels. Therefore, KTTD emphasises the importance of working in accordance with legal regulations and international standards in seminars, panels, exhibitions and other activities in its field of activity, and stresses that cleaning operations must be carried out in licensed and professional recycling facilities that are members of our association. Çağla Sinem Özgen Alemdar Environmental Engineer KTTD General Secretary Chemical Tank Cleaning Association