How to Choose the Correct Container for Hazardous Waste
- 1). Understand the type of hazardous waste you're dealing with. Hazardous materials can be flammable, corrosive or reactive. The container you choose will need to be able to handle these hazards. If you're not sure what type of material you're dealing with, choose a container that can handle flammable, corrosive and reactive materials.
- 2). Choose a container that can also handle toxic waste. Because the hazardous materials could be toxic, you need to make sure the container you choose has an airtight seal. Once the hazardous material is in the container, no air should be able to escape.
- 3). Make sure the container you choose is properly labeled. The label should contain the words "hazardous material," as well as the material's hazard class and the date it was generated. If you're not sure, the label should say something like "materials may be flammable, corrosive, reactive and/or toxic."
- 4). Place the hazardous waste in a container that's large enough. There should be space left over above the waste. This is important because hazardous material can expand, and you don't want the material to expand beyond the size of the container.
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