A ‘lab pack’—also referred to as an ‘over-pack’—in short, is an accumulation of small amounts of different listed hazardous chemicals safely re-packaged in an approved lab pack disposal container, usually a steel or fiber 55-gallon drum. The purpose of a lab pack is to facilitate the chemicals’ proper disposal under federal regulation. The amounts of these chemicals (usually less than ten gallons each) may be minute compared to other generated hazardous wastes, but they are no less dangerous.

The lab pack disposal process involves first identifying, categorizing, and segregating each chemical, solvent, acid, or base, re-packaging them, then depositing the packaged chemicals into a drum that is no larger than 110 gallons in size. An absorbent substance, such as vermiculite, is then added to the filled container.

If a current drum of already-packed chemicals is leaking or damaged, it will need to be ‘over-packed’ in a larger drum. Finally, when the containers of chemical wastes have been secured, they are correctly labeled, marked, and readied for transport.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Resource Recovery and Conservation Act (RCRA) and Land Disposal Restrictions (LDR) program, along with attendant state and local environmental agencies have stringent regulations on lab pack chemicals.

For instance, it is illegal to dump hazardous chemicals down the drain or throw them out in the trash. Government rules also forbid lab pack chemicals from being combined without the oversight of a licensed chemist, as this could lead to a volatile eruption—not to mention—result in a much pricier disposal fee. Additionally, some states may require schools to report all lab pack chemicals that are destined for disposal.

Not only do the EPA and similar state organizations have strict rules on lab decommissioning and disposal, but the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), also have their own set of requirements for the safe handling, transportation, and treatment of lab pack chemicals.

Aside from the legal imperative of proper chemical waste disposal, there are also real world anxieties associated with storing out-of-date, contaminated, leaking, or partially-used chemicals for long periods of time, as explosions are an all-too-real possibility for some acidic chemicals, usually through aging or reaction.

Being mindful of the stringent regulation on small-volume chemical disposal, it would be wise to consult a federally-licensed treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF) or a RCRA-approved hazardous waste disposal company that can handle your school lab waste removal in accordance with the law.

But when it comes time to choose the the right disposal company to properly handle your lap packs, you may want to have some questions ready before picking up the phone.