Hazardous waste containers are regulated at federal, state, and institutional levels. They vary in size and material and must be labeled with the type of waste they contain. Regulations also dictate where and for how long they can be stored, as well as when they can be opened.
Hazardous waste management tends to be tightly regulated. Some of these regulations pertain to the use of hazardous waste containers. These are special vessels used to collect, store, process and transport matter. Hazardous waste container regulations are often determined at the federal, state, and institutional levels.
All hazardous waste containers are not the same size. Some larger vessels are referred to as satellite containers. These are often placed in close proximity to a hazardous waste source and used for repetitive accumulation. When full, they can be moved to the hazardous waste storage area. The date they reached their capacity should be written on them.
Smaller hazardous waste containers, such as safety bins or top drums, may not be kept in a work area. Requirements often dictate that these vessels must be kept in a storage area whether they are full or not. Some regulations define the maximum dimensions of containers. The start date of accumulation must also often be indicated on the vessel. There is generally a limit to how long filled containers can be stored.
The materials used to make hazardous waste containers can vary. For example, some may be made from steel while others are made from coated heavy plastic. One reason is that hazardous waste can be a range of liquids, solids or gases. All storage materials may not be suitable for all types of waste.
Even when proper receptacles are used, there are often additional regulations dictating where the receptacles can be stored. Such regulations may include the type of surfaces on which receptacles may rest and the types of areas in which they may be contained. Such regulations may also dictate where on a property receptacles may be stored.
Containers for hazardous waste often have to be moved from one location to another. In many cases, the site that accumulates the waste is not the entity that will permanently store or process it. It is commonly emphasized that before shipping, containers must be sealed.
It is also commonly required that these receptacles must be marked with the words “hazardous waste”. They must generally have labels that identify the type of waste they contain or the properties of that waste, such as explosives or corrosives. Most hazardous waste container regulations prohibit containers from being opened at any time other than when they are being used.
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