Faculty and Staff

How to Dispose of Empty Hazardous Materials Containers

Last updated September 29, 2009 12:16:40 PM PDT
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Disposal of containers that have held hazardous materials is strictly regulated. The disposal method depends on the container's size, what it's made of, and the hazardous material it once contained. Follow these guidelines for proper disposal.

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1. Determine whether the hazardous material the container once held is an "extremely hazardous waste."

2. Check to see if any hazardous materials are left inside the container.

  • A container is "empty" when all of the following conditions are met:
    • Liquid hazardous material containers:
      • No liquid can drain from it when tilted in any direction.
      • There is no hazardous material remaining that can feasibly be removed.
      • The walls have no encrusted material on them. (A thin layer of dried material is acceptable.)
    • Solid or non-pourable hazardous material containers (powders, sludges, grease, and thick resins):
      • The interior surface is scraped clean, with no residual material.
    • Aerosol containers:
      • The contents and pressure are completely dispensed.
      • The spray mechanism is in place and functional.
    • Gas cylinders:
  • If the container qualifies as "empty," go to Step 3.
  • If the container does not qualify as empty and cannot be emptied into a compatible hazardous waste receptacle, then the container and its contents must be collected by Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) for disposal as hazardous waste.

3. Dispose of empty containers according to their size.

  • After determining your hazardous material container is an "empty" container according to the criteria above, dispose of it according to its size, following procedures below:
    • Capacity greater than 5 gallons (glass, plastic, or metal):
    • Capacity equal to 5 gallons, metal only (for 5-gallon glass or plastic containers, go to the next step):
      • Cross out labels on the container and remove the lid. (Don't obliterate the original product label; staff may need to see what was in the container.)
      • Place the container on the loading dock of your building to be collected by Facilities Management Recycling personnel.
    • Capacity of less than or equal to 5 gallons (glass, plastic, or metal):
      • Cross out labels on the container. (Don't obliterate the original product label; staff may need to see what was in the container.)
      • Remove the lid and dispose of the container in the regular trash.

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For more information, contact the EH&S Environmental Management Facility, (858) 534-2753.

Notice: Disposal of hazardous waste using sinks, intentional evaporation, or as regular trash is against the law. Campus laboratories must abide by strict state and federal waste disposal requirements. You may be held liable for violations of applicable laws.