| Companies everywhere nowadays are looking for | | | | good candidate for reuse, then it must first be |
| ways and means to reduce, recycle and reuse. | | | | subjected to a thorough cleaning. |
| This triple pronged approach is valuable not only | | | | This can be accomplished by what is known as |
| to reduce operating costs, but also provides for a | | | | triple rinse technique that ensures safe and |
| way to be more environmentally responsible. | | | | effective removal of all residue. Thirdly, if the |
| Environmentally responsible companies are well | | | | material chosen to be stored in a recycled drum is |
| accepted by society more so than their | | | | reactive with the material last stored in the drum |
| counterparts that do not pay attention to such | | | | then reuse of the drum is not advisable since any |
| details. And from a business profitability stand | | | | minor residue that is left behind even after the |
| point, this helps the bottom line. Nowhere is this | | | | triple rinse could potentially react and cause |
| more evident than in the recycling and reuse of | | | | danger. An example of this is if a 55 gallon drum |
| 55 gallon drums that are in widespread use. | | | | was used to store and transport a cyanide liquid, |
| Before jumping on the bandwagon, there are | | | | then it should never be used to subsequently |
| some safety tips to consider prior to instituting a | | | | store nitric acid, even if it has been rinsed, |
| program of recycling 55 gallon drums used in your | | | | because in this case it can form deadly hydrogen |
| own organization and this article briefly delves into | | | | cyanide. |
| this subject. | | | | Finally, ensure that the drum is structurally sound |
| The cardinal step to consider prior to designating a | | | | for reuse. Drums that depict significant mechanical |
| 55 gallon drum for reuse is to find out what | | | | damage such as huge dents or leaking holes |
| material was stored in it previously. Drums that | | | | should be removed from the reuse candidates |
| have been used for the storage and | | | | line. While recycling 55 gallon drums may be an |
| transportation of acutely hazardous materials such | | | | effective cost savings mechanism, one must not |
| as cyanides should not even be considered for | | | | overlook safety considerations, since the latter |
| recycling for anything other than the SAME | | | | can actually end up costing more than the savings |
| chemicals. Secondly, if a drum is considered a | | | | effected by a recycling program. |