Paint Can, Empty

Containers that once held dangerous waste can be handled as non-dangerous solid waste if they fit the definition of "empty containers." 

The term "empty" applies whenever all contents of a container have been removed by normal no-nonsense means, such as inverting and draining, shaking, scraping, or scooping. After all common methods are used, the container will be considered empty when the following applicable conditions are met:

• Small containers (less than 110 gallons), are empty when no more than one inch or 3 percent of container volume remains.
• Large containers (greater than 110 gallons), are empty when no more than 0.3 percent of container volume remains.

To learn more about empty containers, consult The Department of Ecology's "Safe Handling of Empty Containers PDF."