Containers previously containing laboratory reagents are not considered as hazardous waste.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (B)

Containers that previously held laboratory reagents can still be considered hazardous waste if they retain hazardous residues. The key idea is that the container’s status depends on how thoroughly it’s emptied and cleaned. An object is not automatically non-hazardous just because the contents have been poured out. If any hazardous residue remains, the container must be managed as hazardous waste or handled under the empty-container rules, which often require draining and thorough cleaning (for liquids, draining and sometimes triple-rinsing) before it can be excluded from hazardous-waste shipments. Only when the container meets the regulatory empty criteria is it treated as non-hazardous or exempt; otherwise, it remains hazardous waste.