In the Waste module, a container represents a physical item or conceptual group of items that can hold material waste and can be moved within an entity or shipped between entities. Examples of containers are:
55-Gallon Drum
5-Gallon Plastic Pail
Tank Car or Truck
Pallet
Group of Containers (for example, a group of 5 Steel Drums)
Lab Packs
Establishing containers in the Waste module allows you to track the location of waste material at your facility. For example, you could establish a container, fill the container with waste material, and then move the container into a waste storage area. To comply with storage restrictions, you can then monitor the number of days the container has been stored and determine when the container must be disposed of or shipped.
For additional instruction on containers, click the following links or use the scroll bar to scan the page.
Establish containers in the Waste module on the Container form, which is the central location for storing information about a container. The primary functions of the Container form are:
Establish a container and its type
Add waste material to a container
Consolidate containers
Move a container
Print container labels
Each container is set up with a unique Container ID. The system can automatically assign unique identifying numbers for containers. The Entity Auto Numbering form is used to set up container ID naming conventions. In addition to the container ID, specify a container type and add other information such as container contents and storage location.
To establish a container
Click Data
Entry > Container Information > Containers in the Navigation Tree.
The Containers list appears.
Click the New
button.
The Container form is displayed.
Select an Entity
from the list in the Container Summary
section.
If the applicable entity is not listed, click the Ellipsis
button and add it.
Enter a unique identifier for the
container in the Container Number
field.
If the entity has been set up for container auto numbering, the system
automatically populates this field with the next available sequential
container ID number.
Select a Container
Type from the list.
If the applicable container type is not listed, click the Ellipsis
button and add it.
Select a Waste Profile from the list. To be included in the list, a material must be identified as a waste profile on the Materials form AND the Approved check box on the Waste Profile form must be selected.
Enter the current Quantity
of waste in the container and select the corresponding unit of measure
from the list.
If the applicable unit of measure is not listed, click the Ellipsis
button and add it.
Click the Container Full check box when the container is full.
Select the Process
Unit, Point of Generation,
Initial Storage Location,
and Onsite Status from the
list for each field.
A process unit is required when a quantity has been entered. If the
applicable value is not listed, click the Ellipsis
button next to the field and add it.
Tip: After the container record is saved, the Process
Unit and Point of Generation
fields are no longer displayed below the Quantity
field. Use the container waste profile history in the Container Contents
section to review the process unit and point of generation entered.
Click the SARA
Exempt and RCRA Exempt
check box when applicable.
The SARA Exempt option here
is for reference purposes only. For TRI reporting, designate containers
as exempt on the Container
Disposal form for on-site disposals or on the Shipment Line
form for off-site disposals.
Review the Initial Accumulation Date, Date Full, 90 Day Storage Date, and Permitted Storage Date fields and use the guidelines below to determine if changes are warranted.
The Initial Accumulation Date field is automatically populated with the current date when the container record is saved.
The Date Full field is automatically populated with the current date when the Container Full check box is selected.
The 90 Day Storage Date field is automatically populated with the current date when the storage area selected has been identified as a 90 Day Accumulation storage area on the Waste Storage Area form.
The Permitted Storage Date field is automatically populated with the current date when the storage area selected has been defined as a Permitted Hazardous Waste storage area on the Waste Storage Area form.
Specify a different date by typing the new date or by clicking the Calendar button next to the field and selecting one.
Click the Save
button on the form.
The Days On Site, Days
Remaining, and Move/Ship by
Date fields are displayed next to the storage date fields.
When a storage area has been selected, the fields are automatically
populated based on the values for the Initial
Accumulation Date, 90 Day
Storage Date, and Permitted
Storage Date fields. The entry for the number of Days
On Site field is tracked until the container is added to a
shipment and the shipment status is Shipped or Received.
Add or view information in the Container Designation, Container Contents, Storage Information, and General Comments sections. When the Lab Pack container designation has been selected, the DOT Information and Waste Codes subsections are available in the Container Designation section.
Click the Save button on the form.
Repeat steps 2 through 14 to add other containers.
The Container Designation section on the Container form allows you to specify the container type repository, such as a single or multiple container, a vehicle, or a lab pack. Lab packing, also called Lab decommissioning or Overpacking, is the term used to describe the process of categorizing small containers of hazardous waste, repackaging the containers, and packing them into 55-gallon drums with compatible absorbent. The packages are referred to as lab packs.
Once the container designation is defined, a corresponding data entry field is displayed to add other details for the designation. For example, if the container is a vehicle, the Vehicle License Number field is shown for entry of the vehicle's license plate number. No additional fields are displayed for single container designations.
To specify container designations
Locate the container on the Containers list, click the container link to open the Container form, and expand the Container Designation section if necessary.
Select a container designation.
The Single Container option
is the default.
When the Lab Pack option is
selected, the DOT Information
and Waste Codes subsections
are displayed. For additional information, refer to Establishing
Shipping Paper Descriptions for a Lab Pack Container and Adding
Waste Codes for Lab Pack Containers.
Enter any additional information
based on the selection, such as the vehicle license number, the number
of multiple containers, or a description of the lab pack.
For accurate reporting purposes, a value is required in the Number
of Containers field for Multiple
Container designations. Consequently, a default value of
1 is automatically
entered when a user-defined value has not been specified.
Click the Save button on the form.
In the DOT Information subsection of the Container Designation section on the Container form, enter shipping paper descriptions for a container designated as a lab pack. Shipping paper descriptions consist of a proper shipping name for a material, a governing body regulating the transport, a method of transport, and other descriptive codes to indicate the type of hazard posed by the Lab Pack container—the descriptions are required department of transportation information. Shipping paper descriptions are used for waste manifests, authored MSDSs, and to help the shipping department at your facility prepare materials for transport.
You can add a shipping paper description that has been associated with the waste profile for the container or select a separate shipping paper description validated on the Transportation Information form. To use a shipping paper description associated with a waste profile, the Waste Profile field in the Container Summary section of the Container form must be completed.
When you associate the shipping paper description for a waste profile with the container, that shipping paper description will be used on the shipment's manifest when you print or preview the manifest provided the following are true:
The governing body is the same as the governing body you select on the Manifest Reporter.
The transportation mode for the material's shipping paper description is the same as the transportation mode selected for the shipment.
Waste codes are also affected depending on whether a waste profile shipping paper description is associated with a container. When the shipping paper description for a waste profile is used, the waste codes are taken from the Waste Profile form and NOT the Waste Codes section on the Container form
To establish shipping paper
descriptions for lab pack containers
Locate the container on the Containers list, click the container link to open the Container form, and expand the Container Designation section if necessary.
Establish the shipping paper description using one of the following methods:
Select the applicable shipping paper description from the Proper Shipping Name field's list. If the appropriate description is not listed, click the Ellipsis button and add it.
Associate the waste profile's shipping paper description with the container by clicking Use Waste Profile's Shipping Information.
Click the Save button on the form.
Use the Waste Codes subsection of the Container Designation section on the Container form to document the governing bodies and waste codes that apply to the container. For example, specify the governing body as "US EPA" and waste code as "D001" to signify that a material is ignitable. When multiple governing bodies and waste codes apply, you can also designate which entry is the primary code.
Note:
If you use the shipping paper description associated with a waste
profile, the waste codes are taken from the Waste
Profile form and NOT the Waste
Codes section on the Container
form.
To add waste codes for a
container
Locate the container on the Containers list, click the container link to open the Container form, and expand the Container Designation section if necessary.
Specify a single waste code, or one waste code, at a time by clicking Add EPA Waste Code in the Waste Codes subsection. To select multiple waste codes, skip to step 6.
Select a Governing
Body and Waste Code
from the list for each field.
If the applicable value is not listed, click the Ellipsis
button next to the field and add it.
Click the Primary check box if the governing body and waste code combination represents the principal governing body/waste code for the lab pack. Just one code can be designated as primary.
Click OK.
The code is displayed as a line item in the Waste
Codes section. Edit existing waste code information using the
buttons adjacent to the line item.
Click Add Multiple EPA Waste Codes to assign several waste codes to the container at one time. Otherwise, skip to step 9.
Click the check box adjacent to a waste code to select it. To clear a selection, click the selected check box.
Click the Add
Selected Waste Codes button.
Each code is displayed as a line item in the Waste
Codes subsection. Edit existing waste code information using
the buttons adjacent to the line item. For example, click the Edit button to designate one of
the codes as primary.
Click the Save button on the Container form.
The gross, current total, and tare weight of the container, as well as the maximum capacity are displayed in the Container Contents section of the Container form. The gross and total weights are automatically computed and displayed when waste material is added to or removed from the container. The gross amount is generally derived from the tare weight added to the waste material weight. The total waste material amount is based on the amount of waste added to or removed from a particular container. The unit of measure is based on the container type selected.
The tare weight and maximum capacity values are based on the values defined for the container type selected for the container. The values can be changed or added as necessary.
To add container content
weight
Locate the container on the Containers list, click the container link to open the Container form, and expand the Container Contents section if necessary.
Enter the Container
Tare Weight, i.e., the weight of the container when it is empty,
and select the corresponding Unit
of measure from the list.
If the applicable unit of measure is not listed, click the Ellipsis
button and add it.
Enter the Container
Max Capacity and select the corresponding Unit
of measure from the list.
If the applicable unit of measure is not listed, click the Ellipsis
button and add it.
Click the Save button on the form.
A list of the waste materials in a container, as well as the quantity of each material, is displayed in the Container Contents section on the Container form. A history of when each waste material was added is also provided. Use the Add Waste form to add new waste material or adjust the material balance for a container by adding/editing waste profiles. Once a waste material has been added or removed, the Total Weight field in the Container Contents section and the Quantity field in the Container Summary section are automatically updated with the new container quantity.
Even though the a running total is calculated using the quantities added to the container, the actual balance may deviate from the calculated balance due to estimating or measuring errors. The material balance may require adjustments, either while the container is at your facility or after the manifest for a shipped container is returned. Typically, when the shipment arrives at the waste receiving facility the amount of waste is accurately measured. If updated information is received via the returned manifest or by some other means, the container weight should be modified to ensure that your Biennial Hazardous Waste Report and other waste-related reports will correctly reflect your quantities of generated wastes.
Note:
You must identify a material as a waste profile on the Materials
form AND select the Approved check
box on the Waste Profile form
before you can add the material to a container. In addition, default results
must be defined for a material's physical property Bulk Density when the
waste is added to a container with a volume units of measure, e.g., gallons.
Define Bulk Density result values in the Material
Composition and Properties section on the Waste
Profile or Material form.
Refer to Composition
and Properties for additional information.
The date added and end date (for historical purposes), plus an entity and process unit where the waste material was generated, are required when adding material to a container. (Waste material can be added to a container from a process unit at a different entity than the entity where the container is located.) A point of generation, i.e., where the waste originates, can be identified. Examples of points of generation are "maintenance shop" and "assembly line". A "fixed waste tank" (process unit) that has an "exit valve" (point of generation) is an example of a process unit and a point of generation specified together.
Note:
Your material inventory for the generating process unit will not
change when you add material to a container.
To add waste material to
a container
Locate the container on the Containers list, click the container link to open the Container form, and expand the Container Contents section if necessary.
Click Add
Waste.
The Add Waste form appears.
Review the Date Added and End Date for accuracy. Enter a new date or click the Calendar button to select one when applicable.
Select a waste profile from the list for the Waste Added field. To be included in the list, a material must be identified as a waste profile on the Materials form AND the Approved check box on the Waste Profile form must be selected.
Enter the quantity of waste being
added in the Amount Added
field and select the corresponding unit of measure from the list.
Default results must be defined for a material waste's physical property
Bulk Density when the waste is added to a container with a volume
units of measure, e.g., gallons. Define Bulk Density result values
in the Material Composition and Properties
section on the Waste Profile
or Material form. Refer to
Composition
and Properties for additional information.
Select the Change
Container Profile option when applicable and select a waste
profile from the list for the New
Profile field, which is displayed after the option is selected.
A material must be identified as a waste profile on the Materials
form AND the Approved check
box on the Waste Profile form
must be selected in order for the material to be recognized as a waste
profile.
Verify the waste source in the Entity field. Select a different entity from the list when applicable.
Select the Process Unit and Point of Generation where the waste originated from the list for each field.
Type a precise Description to keep a record of your waste material addition.
Expand the Lab Pack Information section for containers designated as lab packs and follow the guidelines below. Otherwise, continue to step 11.
Enter the number of containers being added in the No. Containers field and select a Container Type from the list. If the applicable container type is not listed, click the Ellipsis button to add it.
Click the Calendar button and select a 90 Day Start Date and an Initial Accumulation Date.
Click Save.
The new waste profile is added as a line item to Container
Waste Profiles and Container
Waste Profile History in the Container
Contents section. In addition, the value in the Total
Weight field in the Container
Contents section and the Quantity
field in the Container Summary
section is updated with the waste quantity added. Change existing
waste profile history information using the Edit
button adjacent to the line item.
Click the Save button on the form.
Repeat steps 2 through 12 to add other material waste profiles.
The Storage Information section on the Container form provides a summary of a container's location history and lists a container's current location at an entity. In addition, it provides the date of each move and number of days in storage at each location.
Storage limit information is automatically generated after you have added waste material to a container that has been assigned to a waste storage area. RCRA regulates in most cases that hazardous waste cannot be on-site without a permit for more than 90 days. When the system calculates storage limit information, these conditions are considered:
If the waste storage area has a permit, the Move/Ship By date is based on the number of days the waste storage area allows according to the permit.
If the waste storage area does not have a permit, the Move/Ship By date is based on how much time remains on the 90-day clock or a particular waste storage area's storage limits.
The Move/Ship By dates are displayed in the Container Summary section.
The Move Container form is used to record the movement of a container into a waste storage area process unit at your entity. Access the form via the Storage Information section on the Container form or the Container Inventory section on the Waste Storage Area form and use it to move a previously untracked container into a process unit for the first time or to relocate an already assigned container from one process unit to another. The Storage Information section displays container movement summary information for the container and the Container Inventory section shows container movement summary information for the waste storage area.
To move a container
Locate the container on the Containers list, click the container link to open the Container form, and expand the Storage Information section if necessary.
Click Move
Container.
The Move Container form appears.
Review the Move Date and Move End Date for accuracy. Enter a new date, or click the Calendar button to select one, when applicable.
Select a Waste
Storage Area from the list and click Save.
The move information is displayed as a line item in the Storage
Information section. Change existing container movement information
using the Edit button adjacent
to the line item.
Click the Save button on the form.
Use the General Comments section on the Container form to enter any notes or specific details pertaining to container activity, such as movement and shipment information, waste material additions and adjustments, and container consolidation.
Use the Container Consolidation form to move the contents of one or more containers into another container (i.e., the destination or target container). If any of the source containers have been stored for a longer period of time, the oldest container's data will be used to update the accumulation, storage, and the move/ship date information for the target container.
Access the Container Consolidation form via the Container form. Once the containers have been consolidated, the waste material from the consolidated containers is listed in the Container Contents section of the Container form for the destination container. In addition, the consolidated containers no longer appear in the Containers list. Click the List button on the Container Consolidation form to view containers that have been consolidated.
Note:
After a container is consolidated with the destination container,
no material balance adjustments can be made to the consolidated container.
Adjust the material balance for the destination container instead.
To consolidate containers
Locate the destination container on the Containers list and click the container link to open the Container form.
Click Consolidation.
Verify that the destination container number in the Add Contents to Container field is correct when one is displayed. Otherwise, select a container from the list.
Review the Start Date and End Date for accuracy. When necessary, enter a different date or click the Calendar button to select one.
Use the guidelines below to specify the containers to be consolidated in the Available Containers to Consolidate section.
Click Select All to choose all available containers.
Click the check box adjacent to each container line item to be consolidated.
Reduce the list of available containers by selecting values from the lists for the Filter Available Container By field, entering your filter criteria, and clicking Show Containers.
To de-select all of the containers marked for consolidation, click Select None.
Click Consolidate
Marked Containers.
The selected containers are displayed as line items in the Consolidated
Containers section. Use the Delete
button adjacent to the line item to remove a particular container.
The total amount of waste material being consolidated (in pounds)
is automatically calculated and displayed in the lower, right corner
of the section.
Click the Save button on the form.
The Waste module standard copy feature can be used to copy one container record at a time. To make multiple copies of a container record, use the Copy Container form. Access the Copy Container form via the Container form.
To copy containers
Locate the container to be copied on the Containers list and click the container link to open the Container form.
Click Copy
Container Tool.
The Copy Container form appears.
Enter the Number
of Copies and click Copy.
The Copied Containers section
is displayed with a line item for each new container.
Click the Edit
button adjacent to each line item. Change the container number and
any other information for the new container; then click the Save button on the form.
If necessary, you can close the Copy
Container form window without changing the container numbers.
The new containers will appear in the Containers
list with the container number assigned by the software (i.e., displayed
in the line item) and can be edited at any time.
Use the Print Container Label form to print labels to affix to your containers. The labels will help you identify and track the waste containers that are stored within each waste storage area.
Tip: The Print Container
Label form can also be access via the Containers
section on the Shipment Line form
and the Waste Profile form.
To print container labels
Locate the container on the Containers list and click the container link to open the Container form.
Click Container
Label.
The Print Container Label form
appears.
Select a different Container and Label from the list when applicable.
Click Adjust Margin and change the default Left Margin and Top Margin values when applicable.
Click Create Label.
Print the label.
The Shipped/Disposed Container form provides a summary of shipment and disposal information for containers. The shipment information summary includes when and to whom a container was shipped, the name of the transporter who shipped the container, and the document number for the shipping paper used to ship the container. Alternately, when you dispose a container, the disposal system type, such as "Incineration", and the disposal process unit are displayed. Container cost information, e.g., disposal and transportation costs, can also be viewed on this form.
Once a container is shipped or disposed of, it no longer appears in the Containers list. You can find it in the Shipped/Disposed Containers list. Click the link to view a particular container's shipment or disposal information.
To help manage container records at your facility, three browse views are available to search for and locate container information in your Essential database.
Use the Containers list to find containers that have not been disposed on-site or have not been added to a shipment.
Use the Shipped/Disposed Containers list to find containers that have been added to a shipment or disposed of on-site.
Use the All Containers list to find any container that has been established at your facility. Containers in this browse view are listed in descending order, so the last container established is displayed at the top of the list. When container naming conventions involve sequential numbering, the last number used can easily be identified and the next number to be assigned quickly determined.
Click the appropriate link in the Navigation Tree to access a container browse view.
