Find solution
What is a very large drum?

How do you remove an unknown chemical in a large drum sitting in your basement?

  • In my basement there is a 55 gallon pressed cardboard drum with a mysterious white powder inside. On the outside of the drum it only says "Pitt Chem & San. Sup. Co." and nothing else. I am in the process of moving and the people moving in want the drum removed. Which is understandable, but I have no clue what is inside the drum or how to go about removing it. I cannot contact a previous owner or realtor because the house and all in it belonged to my cousin who has since passed away. I have contacted his brother but he knows nothing about it. I tried contacting the company on the container but they could not give me what was inside either without sending out an expensive person to run tests on it. The local garbage company won't remove it from the curb due to not knowing if the chemical is hazardous or not. Can anyone help me with any information on how I should handle this or what to do next. With me moving I do not have the funds to pay for an expensive removal.

  • Answer:

    Contact your local municiple government and try to speak to a supervisor or manager in the sanitation department. They should be able to direct you to someone local for testing. You might also contact a local college and see if someone in the chemistry department could test the contents.

Butterfly Lover at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

You have a real problem. It's likely you only have the option of having the material tested and then removed by a specialty company. In today's environment, no one wants to own, move or ship anything that they can't ID...especially in a 55 gallon drum. I would strongly recommend against doing anything like dumping it at night or tossing it in a ditch. If it is something which requires special handling and you are caught, you will be in major hot water. Good luck! Bug Doc

Bug D

Did you try contacting a local hauling contractor? Often times they can help or put you in touch with another company that can. Chances are the chemical ( if it is a chemical) is NOT hazardous because it is in a cardboard drum. Who knows, if it is something like talc or lime, it may actually have some worth to someone that might take it away for free.

I'll fly away

You probably need to get in touch with a hazaroudous waste removal company. Since the contents are unknown you can't take any chances. It might cost a bit, but that's better than possibly being contaiminated or contaminating someone else with the contents.

Barbara B

I would contact the CDC about it before trying to remove it. If it has a chemical that is reactive and dangerous, you want the experts in to do something about it. If you can't get the CDC, try the FBI -- someone will want to know what it is. .... at least they would on TV.

© ♪♫♪ tori ♫♪♫

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.