Container Must Be Compatible with Waste

Containers for hazardous waste must be compatible with the waste they contain. This means that the waste must not react with the interior lining of a container, or otherwise damage the container. For example, a corrosive hazardous waste, such as chlorine, could eat into the lining of a container and cause the leakage of toxic waste. Likewise, incompatible wastes (those that, when mixed, form a reaction) must not be put into the same container.

Workers must take care when placing a hazardous waste in an unwashed container, or in a container that already has some material in it. The contents of the container may be incompatible with the hazardous waste being added. Combinations of incompatible chemicals may lead to dangerous chemical reactions, including explosions and fires. The facility must store all incompatible wastes separately from the materials with which they may interact. In some cases, RCRA regulations require that incompatible hazardous wastes must be stored at a defined minimum distance from one another.

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.