Sui Huan Gui Zi [2021] No. 5

All printing companies:

　　In order to further promotethe prevention and control of atmospheric pollution and control the pollution of volatile organic compounds (hereinafter referred to as VOCs) in the printing industry in Guangzhou in a standardized manner, according to the Law on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution of the People’s Republic of China, the Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution of Guangdong Province, the Notice on Printing and Distributing the Comprehensive Treatment Plan of Volatile Organic Compounds in Key Industries ((2019) Huan Da Qi No. 53) and the Notice on Printing and Distributing the Work Plan for the Prevention and Control of Air, Water and Soil Pollution in Guangdong Province in 2021 of the General Office of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government ((2021) Yue Ban Han No. 58), and based on the actual situation of Guangzhou, we hereby decide to launch a campaign against VOCs pollution in the printing industry across Guangzhou and relevant matters are as follows:

　　1. This Notice is applicable to production activities by newly built, rebuilt, expanded and existing printing companies within the administrative area of Guangzhou where VOCs are produced, such as printing and packaging books, newspapers, periodicals and brochures.

　　2. The campaign against VOCs pollution in this Notice refers to the comprehensive treatment of printing, cleaning, film covering, varnishing, coating, foil stamping, compounding, drying and other processes of printing companies that lead to VOCs pollution.

　　3. Printing companies should fulfill the goals in the campaign against VOCs pollution by the end of 2021.

　　3.1 Replace raw and auxiliary materials with environment-friendly materials

　　The use of raw and auxiliary materials containing low (no) VOCs should be promoted in an all-round way, and the replacement rate in the whole industry should reach more than 65%. Specific requirements are as follows:

　　For lithographic printing, plant-oil-based offset printing ink, radiation curing ink and alcohol-free/low-alcohol fountain solution should be used and the replacement rate in the whole industry should reach 100%. For intaglio printing, relief printing (including resin printing and flexographic printing) and porous printing (mainly silk-screen printing), the use of water-based ink, energy curing ink and engraving intaglio printing ink should be promoted and the replacement rate should reach more than 60%. For compounding or film covering, in accordance with the principle of using replacements as far as possible, the use of solvent-free compound, water-based adhesive compound and extrusion compound should be promoted and the replacement rate should reach more than 60%. For cleaning, the use of water-based cleaning agent and semi-water-based cleaning agent should be promoted and the replacement rate should reach more than 60%. For metalware printing, the use of solvent-free agent and radiation curing coating should be promoted and the replacement rate should reach more than 60%.

　　As of these, the VOCs level in raw and auxiliary materials containing VOCs should meet the requirements specified in the Limits ofVolatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Printing Ink(GB 38507-2020), the Limit of Volatile Organic Compounds Content in Adhesive (GB 33372-2020) and the Limits for Volatile Organic Compounds Content in Cleaning Agents (GB 38508-2020). Raw and auxiliary materials containing low VOCs should be determined according to the Technical Requirement for Low Volatile Organic Compound Content CoatingsProduct(GB/T 38597-2020). If China or Guangdong Province issue any new standards, all raw and auxiliary materials containing VOCs should meet the requirements of new standards.

　　3,2 Collect and control fugitive waste gas

　　Materials containingVOCs (including raw and auxiliary materials containing VOCs, products containing VOCs, wastes containing VOCs, organic polymer materials, etc.) should be stored, transported, distributed, used and cleaned in an airtight device (container) or space. The airtight device (container) or space should be equipped with an exhaust gas collection system. It’s firstly recommended to collect materials containing VOCs in a small and overall closed compartment separated by devices on the production line. In the case that the overall collection condition is not available, an external exhaust hood should be used and the requirements of the Standard for Fugitive Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (GB 37822-2019) should be met.

　　Advanced printing technologies such as automatic rubber blanket cleaning, fountain solution filtration cycle, nitrogen protection all-UV drying, solvent-free compound, co-extrusion compound, alcohol-free fountain offset printing, water-free offset printing and pre-coating film technology should be promoted.

　　3.3 Build suitable and efficient pollution control facilities

　　Printingcompanies should build suitable and efficient treatment facilities based on their actual situation to ensure the stable and standardized discharge of waste gas. It is not recommended to use low-efficiency treatment facilities such as photooxidation facilities, photocatalysis facilities and low-temperature plasma facilities.

　　For printingcompanies that have replaced their raw and auxiliary materials with environment-friendly materials, the VOCs removal rate of their pollution control facilities should be no lower than 50%.

　　For printing companies that have not replaced their raw and auxiliary materials with environment-friendly materials, and whose initial discharge rate of non-methane total hydrocarbon in waste gas collected before purification ≥3kg/h, the removal rate should be higher than 80%. Printing companies that have not replaced their raw and auxiliary materials with environment-friendly materials and adopt single activated carbon adsorption treatment technology or low-efficiency treatment facilities such as photooxidation facilities, photocatalysis facilities and low-temperature plasma facilities should install a device that reflects the flow rate of waste gas, the VOCs level before and after treatment and the removal efficiency, so as to ensure the stable and standardized discharge of waste gas.

　　Printing companies that use printing ink, fountain solution, adhesive, varnishing oil, coating solution, cleaning agent, etc. that comply with national regulations for products with low VOCs level and discharge wastes in stable concentrations and in a standardized manner, and whose discharge rate meets relevant regulations, may not build terminal treatment facilities for corresponding production processes. For processes that use raw and auxiliary materials whose VOCs level is lower than 10%, collection and treatment measures for fugitive emission are not required, but printing companies should make relevant book records.

　　The height of thewaste gas discharge cylinder should not be lower than 15 meters (except for safety considerations or special process requirements). The specific height and the relative height relationship with surrounding buildings should be determined according to environmental impact assessment documents. The exhaust pipe should be installed in accordance with the requirements of the Guideline for the Standardized Layout of Pollution SourceDischarge Outlets in Guangdong Province((2008) Yue Huan No.42), and lockable automatic and manual sampling ports and sampling platforms that meet relevant standards should be set in front of and behind the purification device, without bypass or air leakage. The discharge of VOCs should conform to relevant requirements of the Emission Standard of Volatile Organic Compounds for Printing Industry (DB 44/815-2010) and the Standard for Fugitive Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (GB 37822-2019).

　　Secondary pollutants should be properly and timely disposed of. Waste water from waste gas treatment should be replaced and treated regularly. Waste adsorbents and catalysts generated after the replacement should be stored in strict accordance with the Standard for Pollution Control on Hazardous WasteStorage(GB 18597-2001), and should be handed over to qualified units for disposal.

　　3.4 Keep book records

　　Printing companies should, according to their actual production conditions, standardize their internal management mechanisms, establish a book record management system and operating procedures, and record basic production information and the replacement cycle of waste gas treatment consumables. The book records include but are not limited to the following contents:

　　3.4.1 The names of raw and auxiliary materials containing VOCs (printing ink, diluent, cleaning agent, fountain solution, adhesive, complex glue, varnishing oil, coating paint, etc.) and the VOCs level, purchase amount, workshop usage, inventory, waste amount, recovery method and recycling amount of raw and auxiliary materials containing VOCs, etc.

　　3.4.2 Monitoring report of waste gas treatment facilities before and after treatment (including the amount, concentration, temperature, treatment efficiency, etc., of waste gas; no less than once a year).

　　3.4.3 Key parameters, operation management and abnormal conditions of waste gas pollution prevention and control facilities.

　　3.4.4 Fugitive waste gas monitoring (no less than once a year) as required by theStandard for Fugitive Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (GB 37822-2019).

　　3.4.5 Purchase and disposal records of related consumables of waste gas treatment facilities (absorbent, catalyst, heat accumulator, etc.) and disposal of other hazardous wastes (waste ink, waste cleaning agent, waste fountain solution and its contaminants, waste glue, waste varnishing oil and its contaminants, waste machine wipe cloth, etc.).

　　The book records should be kept no less than 3 years. Waste gas monitoring should be conducted according to relevant requirements of the Self-MonitoringTechnology Guidelines forPollution Sources-General Rule (HJ 819-2017).

　　4. After fulfilling the requirements of this campaign, printing companies should timely inform local ecological environment authorities, submit their basic information, technical report of pollution prevention and control facilities and waste gas monitoring report, and cooperate with relevant departments and units in evaluation.

　　5. Printing companies that fail to fulfill the requirements of this campaign within the time limit specified in this Notice and violatethe Law on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution of Guangdong Province should be investigated and punished by ecological environment authorities according to the law.

　　6. Ecological environment, industry and information technology, and market supervision and administration authorities should strengthen their linkage mechanism, coordinate in the control of VOCs pollution in the printing industry, supervise and guide the clean transformation in the printing industry, control the use of raw and auxiliary materials containing VOCs such as water-based ink and water-based adhesive, and establish a notification system about campaign progress and supervision progress.

　　7. Ecological environment authorities should improve the information disclosure system and timely disclose the campaign progress of printing companies through network and other media channels. They should also enhance the publicity of this campaign, and guide and encourage the public to actively supervise and report relevant printing companies in violation of this Notice.

　　8. This Notice should come into force on September 23, 2021 and be valid for 3 years.

　Guangzhou Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau

　　Guangzhou Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau

　　August 20, 2021

Disclosure:Active Disclosure