Printing and Related Support Activities Sector (NAICS 323)
Printing is part of the manufacturing sector (NAICS 31 - 32). It is composed of printing, platemaking and bookbinding; printing is by one or more common processes, such as lithography, letterpress, flexography, gravure, and screen printing.
Read more about sectors at the US Census Bureau NAICS site.
Additional federal and state regulations not listed here may apply. Find your state environmental agency.
Laws and Regulations
- Federal Environmental Regulations Potentially Affecting the Commercial Printing Industry (PDF) (76 pp, 171 K)
- National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP): air toxics regulations:
- Metal Coil (surface coating)
- Paper and Other Web (surface coating)
- Plastic Parts (surface coating)
- Printing and Publishing (surface coating)
Compliance
- Printing Sector Compliance Assistance: including sector profiles and assistance centers.
- RCRA in Focus: Printing (PDF) (15 pp, 245 K): A guide for small business, includes a hazardous waste table of RCRA requirements and answers frequently asked questions.
Policies and Guidance
- Multimedia Compliance/Pollution Prevention Assessment Guidance for Lithographic Printing Facilities (PDF) (91 pp)
- Multimedia Compliance Pollution Prevention Assessment Guidance for Screen Printing Facilities (PDF) (110 pp)
Related Technical Information
- AP 42 - Chapter 6: Organic Chemical Process Industry: emission factors and process information for air pollution source categories, including printing ink.
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Frequent Questions
Partnership Programs
- Design for the Environment: Printing Publications: best practices to identify beneficial changes for the industry.