How to Recycle 5-Gallon Metal Pails That Held Solvent

Metal is one of the most lucrative recyclables, but you must use caution to ensure the metal is as pure as possible. When you recycle something like metal pails, for instance, make sure you thoroughly clean out the substance the pails originally stored. The same goes for any solvents you may have stored in the pails. A solvent is a liquid, gas or solid that dissolves another substance.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Soap
• Sponge

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Instructions

• 1

  Examine the outside of the five-gallon pails for any labels or stickers. Peel them off if you find any. Labels will interfere with the pureness of the metal as much as any remaining solvent would.

• 2

  Fill the pails with two inches of hot water. Make the water as hot as you can stand. Fill them and clean them one at a time to ensure the water is still hot when you start cleaning.

• 3

  Pour some degreasing dish soap into the hot water. Swish the pais around to create suds.

• 4

  Don a pair of rubber gloves before you start the cleaning process. Some solvents can be harmful to your skin.

• 5

  Scrub the inside of the pails with a sturdy sponge. Pay special attention to any parts of a pail that have a textured or rusted feel. These areas may have a storehouse of solvents.

• 6

  Empty the pails of water when the water grows cold. Refill it with fresh hot water and soap. Repeat the washing process at least three times.

• 7

  Rinse the five-gallon pails with hot water two times. Rinse all around them to ensure you remove all remnants of solvent and soap. Set the pails aside to dry.

• 8

  Deliver the dry pails to a recycling center that accepts metal. Some recycling centers accept only certain types of metal, so ensure they will accept your five-gallon pails before you waste a trip to the recycling center.