It’s difficult to imagine when it was the norm that companies would discard flammable liquids into landfills alongside other types of common trash and hazardous waste. But an “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” strategy wasn’t going to work, and you don’t have to look further than the historical Love Canal story to know that.
Today, companies must follow strict federal and state regulations when disposing of their flammable liquids. This includes all parts of disposal, from storage to transportation and recycling.
The U.S. Department of Transportation identifies chemicals on the Class 3 flammable liquids list as:
Liquids with flashpoints of not more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit, orAny material in a liquid phase with a flash point greater or above 100 degrees F that is intentionally heated and offered for transportation or transported at or above its flashpoint in a bulk packaging
A flashpoint is a temperature at which a particular organic compound gives off sufficient vapor to ignite in air. This classification is important because these regulations impact all aspects of your disposal process.
If your flammable liquids include substances like acetaldehyde, petroleum ether or ethyl chloride, these are classified as being on the Class 3 flammable liquids list.
So what is the proper way to dispose of Class 3 dangerous goods that you utilize at your facility? It begins with safely storing your chemicals as they await disposal, and ends with weighing which disposal method is the most sustainable and cost-efficient.
Prep For Disposal: Keep Flammable Liquids Stored Properly
Until flammable liquids are disposed of, it’s best to store any spent solvents or chemicals theclass 3 flammable liquids list chemicals same way you store your unused liquids.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workers can only store flammable liquids in approved containers and portable tanks. Workers must store flammable liquids in quantities of 5 gallons or less in approved safety cans or Department of Transportation approved containers. The only exception to this is if the flammable liquids are extremely hard to pour. In this case, original shipping containers can hold the flammable liquids.