Empty Chemical Containers
- Exposure to chemicals can cause a host of harmful effects to humans and the environment.
- Chemicals can harm wildlife, seep through soil, mix with groundwater, and eventually get consumed.
- Preventing these outcomes starts in the lab. It starts with how you clean your empty chemical containers, how you dump the hazardous waste, and how you dispose of your containers.
Which Chemicals Are Hazardous?(These containers must be disposed of as hazardous waste)
It can be tough to know whether a chemical is hazardous or not.
The EPA has put together a master list of 鈥淧-Listed鈥 wastes. These chemicals are deemed 鈥渁cutely hazardous,鈥
Whenever you are unsure, refer to this list. It鈥檚 in alphabetical order so the chemicals are easy to find.
Which Chemicals are Prohibited from Drain Disposal?
It is discouraged that chemicals are poured down the drain for disposal.
Here is a list of chemicals that cannot be washed down the drain:
- All alkanes and water-insoluble hydrocarbons, including: Mineral spirits, Stoddard solvent paint stripper (e.g., Jasco), Petroleum hydrocarbons, Naptha, and solvent-based adhesives.
- All chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbons.
- Chlorinated solvents, including: Methylene chloride (dichloromethane), Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Trichloroethane, and Trichloroethylene.
- Chlorofluorocarbons (freons)
- Concentrated acids and bases (pH 10)
Refer to this list before pouring any chemicals. Contact EHS if you have questions about this.
What is Empty?
Chemical bottles shall be emptied as much as possible to ensure that landfills are not contaminated with any chemical material. According to hazardous waste regulations, most chemical containers are "empty" if you have used "normal means," such as inverting, shaking and scraping, to remove the contents from the container.
For volatile organic solvents not on the list of acutely hazardous waste (like acetone, ethanol, ethyl acetate, ethyl ether, hexane, methanol, methylene chloride, petroleum ether, toluene, xylene, etc.), the emptied container can be air-dried in a ventilated area , such as a fume hood.
If you plan on reusing the container, ensure that the old label is crossed out and the CEMS label removed from the bottle.
How to Know if Your Chemical Container is Empty
For Liquid Hazardous Material Containers:
- No liquid should drain when the container is tilted in any direction.
- No more liquid can physically be removed.
- The walls are free from any chemical encrusted on them.
For Solid Hazardous Material Containers:
- The interior surface must be completely scraped clean, with no residual chemical.
For Aerosol Containers:
- The contents and pressure must be completed dispensed.
- The sprayer is working and in place.
For Gas Cylinders:
- Contact EHS for disposal.
Summary
Chemical containers, and the chemicals within them, need to be disposed of appropriately.
You know which chemicals are hazardous, which chemicals you cannot wash down the drain, how to ensure a chemical container is empty, how to know if it is cleaned properly, and how to dispose of your empty chemical containers.
Follow this process and you will help reduce the harmful effects hazardous waste can cause to both humans and the environment.
Any questions, please contact EHS.