Laboratories, shops, and other users of chemicals must know the contents of all containers in their areas. If you have an unidentified chemical waste that you want to dispose of, try identifying the contents by asking other researchers if they know who produced it. If you cannot find the original researcher, narrow the scope of potential generators.

If you have exhausted all available information and still cannot identify a waste, EH&S will inspect (and potentially analyze) a sample of the material. This process can take weeks, so you should submit a completed Request for Analysis of Unidentified Material Form as soon as an unknown waste is discovered. EH&S cannot remove unknown wastes from your lab until they have been positively identified.