How do I choose the proper container for storing hazardous waste?

To safely manage hazardous waste, you must know exactly what constitutes a waste, how it will act, and what its properties are. Is the waste extremely toxic? Do workers need special protection? Is the waste corrosive, or will it corrode certain types of containers? Is the waste incompatible with other wastes will it react (explode, catch on fire) if mixed with another waste or with water?

Once a waste is generated, you should characterize the waste before you place it in a container. Waste characterization can be done by either:

1. Sampling and analyzing the waste, or
2. Identifying the waste based on process knowledge (you know the constituents in the process and use that knowledge to determine if the resulting waste has characteristics that could make the waste hazardous).