Unlabeled Drums Disposal

Many areas prohibit the collecting of unlabeled chemical containers. However, there are procedures available to help identify the contents of a container, and apply the appropriate label before disposing of appropriately.

Under certain circumstances, sampling of the unidentified chemical is not recommended:

• Peroxide-forming Chemical- compounds such as ethers, dioxanes, and tetrahydrofuran absorb and react with oxygen to form potentially explosive compounds. Therefore, if an unlabeled liquid is partially or fully evaporated, and crystals are present (or the liquid has become cloudy), label the container as "POSSIBLE PEROXIDE."
• Radioactive Chemical- Some unlabeled chemicals contain radioactive materials. If possible, use a radiation detection instrument to determine if the material is radioactive.
• Biological Materials- If you suspect that the material in the container is a biohazard, do not sample the material.

In other circumstances, a sample can be taken to determine the properties of the unidentified container. This involves testing the pH, reactivity to water, flammability, and air reactivity. If you have unidentified drums or other containers to dispose of, request pricing today to determine the cost to identify and properly remove the containers.