How to Dispose of Polyurethane Foam Barrels

Polyurethane foam barrels are plastic drums commonly used as industrial waste containers. Empty polyurethane barrels are considered a mild form of hazardous solid waste by the Environmental Protection Agency and are commonly banned by municipal solid waste landfills. The most viable option for the disposal of these barrels is to recycle them at a licensed facility. The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) manual is a helpful industry standard of reference for the disposal of harmful or hazardous waste.

Things You'll Need

• Materials Safety Data Sheets manual
• Protective eyewear
• Heavy-duty rubber gloves

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Instructions

Recycling Polyurethane Barrels

• 1

  Put on protective eyewear and rubber gloves before attempting to handle the barrel.

• 2

  Empty the barrel and remove all the labels on the outside or inside. If there is waste material in the barrel, pour or pump it out until there is no greater than one inch of residue on the inner liner or bottom of the barrel. Reference your MSDS manual for the proper disposal of these contents. The industry term for the general assessment of a properly emptied barrel is when it is "drip dry."

• 3

  Research the reputation of the drum reconditioning or recycling businesses in your area to ensure they are licensed to properly recycle or destroy the barrel.

• 4

  Schedule for the licensed drum reconditioning or scrap metal recycling plant to pick up the barrel or have it shipped to their facility.