Return to: U of M Home

Gold University of Minnesota M. Skip to main content.University of Minnesota. Home page.

Home > Hazardous Waste > Chemical Safety Day Program > Instructions to Package Material/Waste Safely

Instructions to Package Material/Waste Safely

  1. Determine which material/waste needs to be disposed of.
  2. Segregate the material/waste into the following categories (each category will use a different type of manifest):
    1. Pure Chemicals: such as outdated or excess chemicals from a laboratory stockroom (use Form A.)
    2. Chemicals Mixtures: this would include solutions, outdated reagents, wastes from experiments, etc. (use Form B.)
    3. Commercial Products: such as old paint, aerosols, boiler additives, art supplies, or photographic chemicals (use Form C.)
    4. Unknown Laboratory Samples that have lost their labels and can not be identified. (use Form D.)
  3. Examine the containers.
    1. Each container must have a secure cap. Glass stoppered or corked bottles must be taped closed.
    2. Damaged containers, contaminated glassware, and broken thermometers must be overpacked in screw or snap top plastic containers and noted on the box/container manifest.
    3. Each container and overpack must be labeled with its contents.
  4. Complete the required manifest forms for each of the four above mentioned categories according to the following directions. (Copies of the blank manifest forms should be made from the masters provided as needed.)
    1. Form A: Pure Chemicals
      1. Use the enclosed alphabetical chemical listing: UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CHEMICAL REGISTRY to look up each chemical's DDC#. Separate chemicals by the FULL FOUR CHARACTER DDC# so that each group of separated chemicals contains only one full four character DDC type.
      2. Solids and Liquids must also be separated within the full four character DDC#.
      3. Each box/container will contain only chemicals with the same four character DDC#. For example, only 05SO's (solids only) will be in a box/container or only 05SO's (liquids only) will be in a box/container. For each box/container of chemicals, record the items that are put into it on a Form A. EACH INDIVIDUAL BOTTLE MUST BE LISTED SEPARATELY ON A LINE. (Draw arrows down for multiple identical bottles.)
      4. To complete Form A, fill out the remaining requested information. The CAS and EPA Numbers can be obtained from the UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CHEMICAL REGISTRY. Enter the total amount for each item (kilograms for solids, liters for liquids). Check-off whether the box/container contains all solids or all liquids. Check-off whether it's a labpack (multiple containers) or a bulk material (pail or drum.) See the example of a completed Form A: Pure Chemical Manifest.

        There are some exceptions to the above mentioned procedures:
        Non-hazardous chemicals with an NH in the DDC#. These items can generally be tossed in the trash or flushed down the drain. If you have a small amount that you will flush down the drain, first check with the local sanitary district to be sure that this is acceptable and then use plenty of water. If you are going to trash an item, check with the local sanitary landfill to be sure that this is acceptable and then label the bottle "non-hazardous" before discarding.  

        Nitric Acid or Perchloric Acid: Package alone in a 5 gallon plastic pail with secure lid. Use inert packing material.
        Metallic Mercury: Package alone in a 5 gallon plastic pail with secure lid. Use plenty of packing material.
        Ethers (older than six months): Write or call for instructions.
        Picric Acid: Write or call for instructions
        Dinitro or Trinitro Compounds: Write or call for instructions.
       

    2. Form B: Chemical Mixtures
      1. Each chemical mixture type must be packaged alone. Multiple bottles of the same chemical mixture can go into the same box/container.
      2. Each chemical mixture must have listed on the manifest form and on the bottle(s) the following information:
        1. The constituents of the chemical mixture including water if present. The chemical mixture manifest also requires CAS#'s, DDC#'s and EPA#'s for each chemical constituent found in the mixture.
        2. The % of each constituent.
        3. Amount in kilograms for solids and liters for liquids. Check-off whether the box/container contains all solids or all liquids. Check-off whether it's a labpack (multiple containers) or a bulk material (pail or drum.)
        4. Test the pH of liquid chemical mixtures and record in the pH box.
      3. See the example of a completed Form B: Chemical Mixture Manifest.
    3. Form C: Commercial Products
      1. Each commercial product type must be packaged alone. Multiple bottles of the same commercial product cango into the same box/container.
      2. Obtain the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the commercial product from the manufacturer. Attach a copy of the MSDS to the manifest.
      3. Each commercial product must have listed on the manifest form the following information:
        1. The constituents of the commercial product including water if present. The commercial product manifest also requires CAS#'s, DDC#'s and EPA#'s for each chemical constituent found in the commercial product.
        2. The % of each constituent.
        3. The product name, a description of the product's usage, catalog number, age. manufacturer, address and phone number.
        4. Amount in kilograms for solids and liters for liquids. Check-off whether the box/container contains all solids, all liquids, or all aerosols. Check-off whether it's a labpack (multiple containers) or a bulk material (pail or drum.)
        5. Test the pH for liquid commercial products and record in the pH box.
      4. See the example of a completed Form C: Commercial Product Manifest
    4. Form D: Unknown Laboratory Samples
      1. Have a qualified person (science teacher or chemical stockroom supervisor) with chemical laboratory experience perform the Unknown Characterization Tests to classify the sample. Exercise Caution!
      2. Provide the container and physical descriptions.
      3. If you suspect that the bottle contains an air-, shock- or water-sensitive chemical or you do not have the means to perform the tests, please contact the Chemical Safety Day Program.
      4. Each unknown laboratory sample must be packaged alone.
      5. See the example of a completed Form D: Unknown Laboratory Sample Manifest.

      6. If you are a private school/college, please call the CSDP at this point for special packaging instructions.

  5. To package the material/waste use sturdy cardboard boxes or 5 gallon pails (with lids) large enough to completely enclose the containers. (5 gallon pails/cans or larger drums, if in good condition, do not require additional packaging.)
  6. Be sure the containers are cushioned from clinking together. Cardboard dividers, styrofoam peanuts, or vermiculite are all acceptable cushioning materials. Vermiculite (or another inert absorbent) must be used for boxes/containers containing liquids. Seal the boxes with packing tape.
  7. Complete School, Address, City/State/Zip and EPA ID# on all Manifest Forms. Print Name, Sign and Date all Manifest Forms.
  8. Number your Boxes/Containers (1, 2, 3, . . .) Record this on the Box/Container AND ON THE MANIFEST. The order of Manifest type doesn't matter as long as each box/container has a unique number. This numbering must be done prior to the submission of the manifests.
  9. Make 2 photo copies of each completed Manifest Form.
  10. Attach one copy to the top of the box/container (so it's readable), keep the other copy for the school's records, and mail or fax the originals to:

    2004 Chemical Safety Day Program
    University of Minnesota TCEM
    501 23rd Avenue SE
    Minneapolis, MN 55455-0447
    Fax: 612-626-1571
     
  11. Store the boxes/containers in a safe, secure area designated for chemical storage and separate them by chemical compatibility (for example acids away from caustics, flammables away from oxidizers and other organic boxes).
  12. If any changes need to be made to the contents of a box/container before the scheduled collection, you will be notified by the Chemical Safety Day Program.

If you need information for chemicals not listed in the registry, please call or fax a list and the information will be provided.