Liquids and Unknowns

Departments and Primary Investigators are responsible for knowing the identity of materials they have in storage. Federal regulations require all chemical containers to be labeled, so 'unknowns' should not be an issue. In the event an unknown/unidentified chemical is found, it can often be classified either through departmental knowledge or basic assay testing. Disposal companies charge a fee to identify and dispose of unlabeled/unknown containers; any fees for characterization of unknowns will be the responsibility of the originating department.  The Director of Environmental Management should be contacted immediately in the event that unknown/unidentified materials are discovered, for guidance in proper handling and disposal of the waste.

All containers of liquid materials (product or waste) must be stored with caps/lids tightly sealed at all times (except when adding or removing material from the container). Appropriate secondary containment is strongly recommended for all liquid containers, as appropriate.

Materials that may be considered surplus or are no longer needed by one department can sometimes be used elsewhere on campus. This may include paint-related materials and some construction and maintenance- type materials as well as laboratory chemicals. The Director of Environmental Management will work with those departments to arrange for the proper handling and re-use or disposal of these materials.

Anyone having questions regarding materials they consider to be waste should contact the Environmental Management Department at 417-836-8334 or EnvironmentalManagement@missouristate.edu