Hazardous Waste Storage Containers with Built-in Spill Containment
We build hazardous waste and chemical storage containers at our factory in Kocaeli, Türkiye. Galvanised grating on the floor, a leak-tight spill sump underneath, and ventilation chosen for what goes inside. The size is set by your site, not by a catalogue.
Where does the waste sit until it is collected?
What is a waste storage container?
A waste storage container is a closed, lockable container where hazardous waste, chemicals and waste oils are kept until a licensed contractor collects them. The floor is galvanised grating with a leak-tight sump underneath, so if a drum tips over the liquid stays in the sump instead of running out. Vents stop vapour from building up inside.
Most sites have the same problem. Waste is produced every day, but the licensed contractor comes once a month, maybe less. In between, drums sit in a corner or out in the open. Rain collects between the containers, one leaking can leaves the ground soaked in oil, and that corner is the first place an inspector looks. A waste container is there to sort that waiting area out.
The body is built the same way as our other containers: a weld-free, bolted galvanised frame with sandwich panels. What makes a waste container different is the inside. Sump volume, grating load, how many vents, how wide the door needs to be: we decide these once we know what you will store. The same goes for size. If 240×600 or 300×700 does not fit, we build to your site.
See technical specificationsLast updated:
Six container types by waste stream
You would not put acid next to waste oil, or medical waste next to scrap cardboard. The six types below are the requests we get most often. If yours does not fit one exactly, that is fine: send us your waste codes and we will lay out the interior around them.
Hazardous waste container
The general container where oily rags, empty chemical cans, filters and similar waste from around the plant end up. Shelves and bays keep each waste in its own place.
Typical contents
- Oily rags, gloves and wipes
- Contaminated empty drums and cans
- Used oil and air filters
Key equipment: Grated spill sump, low- and high-level ventilation, waste code signage board
Request a quote for this typeChemical waste container
Acids, alkalis, solvents, paint. It may be waste or raw material that has not been used yet, which is why it is also bought as a chemical storage container. Where chemicals could react, we split the sump into separate bays and pick the coating to suit.
Typical contents
- Acid and alkali solutions
- Solvent, thinner and paint residues
- Laboratory chemicals
Key equipment: Chemical-resistant sump coating, compartmented sump, fan-assisted ventilation
Request a quote for this typeWaste oil container
The type workshops and service centres tend to need. Oil collects in drums or IBCs, drips go through the grating into the sump, and when the sump fills you open the valve and drain it.
Typical contents
- Engine and gearbox oils
- Hydraulic and compressor oils
- Soluble and cutting oils
Key equipment: Grating rated for IBCs and drums, drain valve, door sized for pallet trucks
Request a quote for this typeBattery and gas cylinder container
Batteries can leak acid and cylinders can fall over. So batteries go on shelves over a sump and cylinders are chained to the wall.
Typical contents
- Vehicle and forklift batteries
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Empty gas cylinders
Key equipment: Shelved compartments, cylinder restraint chains, earthing
Request a quote for this typeMedical waste container
In hospitals and clinics, medical waste waits here under lock until the collection vehicle arrives. The interior can be washed down, and we add air conditioning where needed.
Typical contents
- Infectious waste bags
- Sharps containers
- Laboratory waste
Key equipment: Washable interior, floor drain, air-conditioning provision
Request a quote for this typePackaging and recycling waste container
Cardboard, plastic, metal, wood. Not hazardous, but they should not share a container with hazardous waste. A separate container solves that and keeps recyclables clean.
Typical contents
- Cardboard and plastic packaging
- Scrap metal and cans
- Wooden pallets and crates
Key equipment: Wide door, separate collection bays, ventilation
Request a quote for this typeWhat is inside a waste container?
The numbers in the drawing match the list below. Not every container needs all of them. If you only store packaging, you do not need a sump; if solvents are going in, a fan and earthing are a must. We go through the list with you when preparing the quote.
- 1Galvanised grating
- 2Spill sump
- 3Drain valve
- 4Ventilation louvres
- 5Lighting
- 6Earthing
- 7Warning and waste code sign
- 8Fire extinguisher
- Galvanised grating floorCarries drums, cans and IBCs and lets spilt liquid through to the sump below. Grating panels lift out for cleaning.
- Leak-tight spill sumpA steel tray beneath the grating. Its volume is calculated for the liquids stored and its inner surface has a chemical-resistant coating.
- Drain valveFor draining collected liquid in a controlled way and handing it over to a licensed contractor.
- VentilationNatural ventilation through low- and high-level louvres; fan-assisted ventilation for higher vapour loads, with ATEX-rated fans for flammable vapours.
- Electrics and lightingStandard electrical installation; ATEX-rated (ex-proof) lighting and switches where there is a risk of explosive atmospheres.
- EarthingEarthing connection for the body and sump to prevent static build-up.
- Door and lockLockable steel door; wide double door option for forklift or pallet truck access.
- Safety equipmentFire extinguisher bracket, spill kit location, warning signs and waste code signage board.
- Panels and insulationStandard 50 mm polyurethane (PUR) sandwich wall panels; mineral wool core panels as an option where flammable materials are stored.
Waste containers built to your dimensions
Our standard sizes are 240×600 and 300×700 cm. For a waste container these are often just a starting point. What really decides it is how many containers go inside and where the unit will stand. Some customers want something that fits a narrow gap against a wall, others want a wide module a forklift can turn around in. We build both to the size required.
When we draw up the size, we ask two questions. Can a forklift or pallet truck manoeuvre inside? If the largest container empties completely, can the sump take it? You can check the second one yourself with the calculator.
Spill sump volume calculator
A common rule is to size the sump to hold 110% of the largest container or 25% of the total volume stored, whichever is greater. Try it with your own figures:
- Total volume stored
- 4,000 L
- 110% of the largest container
- 1,100 L
- 25% of the total volume
- 1,000 L
- Recommended minimum sump volume
- 1,100 L (1.10 m³)
For preliminary sizing only. The final sump volume is set in the design according to local regulations, your site permit and the properties of the waste.
Example: for 4 IBCs (4 × 1,000 L = 4,000 L) the 110% rule gives 1,100 L and the 25% rule 1,000 L, so the sump must hold at least 1,100 L.
Quotation and production process
- RequirementsWaste types, waste codes, container types and quantities
- Size and sumpLayout, sump volume and compartment plan
- Drawing and quoteWritten quotation with equipment list
- ProductionManufacture and fit-out in our factory
- DeliveryShipping, positioning and earthing
Which industries use waste containers?
Most of our waste container enquiries come from the sectors below. Next to each one we have noted what usually ends up in the container.
Chemicals, paints and plastics
Solvents, resins, paint sludge and contaminated packaging.
Vehicle workshops and fleet maintenance
Waste engine oil, batteries, antifreeze, brake fluid and oily filters.
Metalworking and surface treatment
Cutting oils, spent acid baths and plating waste.
Hospitals, laboratories and pharma
Medical waste, laboratory chemicals and expired medicines.
Power plants and mining sites
Transformer and hydraulic oils, plant maintenance waste, chemical additives.
Construction sites
Formwork oil, paint, admixtures and plant maintenance waste; planned together with the site camp.
Ports, shipyards and logistics
Bilge and maintenance waste, contaminated packaging, spill response materials.
Municipalities and public bodies
Civic amenity sites, workshop and depot waste, battery collection.
Food and beverage plants
Cleaning and disinfection chemicals, laboratory waste.
Agriculture and agrochemical stores
Empty pesticide packaging, fertiliser and agrochemical stocks.
Waste container or permanent waste store?
Both do the job. A container goes in quickly and can be moved later. If you need a large store that will stay in one place for many years, a permanent building may make more sense.
| Feature | Waste storage container | Permanent (built on site) store |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Factory-built and delivered ready; placed on level ground | Requires on-site construction and curing time |
| Spill containment | Sump built together with the body | Impermeable floor, kerb and sump built separately |
| Relocation | Moved when the site or layout changes | Fixed; cannot be moved |
| Expansion | Capacity grows by adding modules | Requires additional construction |
| Best suited to | Fast commissioning, leased premises, changing sites | Large-volume, permanent storage |
Temporary storage requirements and how the container meets them
Most countries have rules for keeping hazardous waste on site, often with separate rules for medical waste, waste oil and batteries. The table lists the points inspectors usually check and what covers them in the container. Send us your local requirements with your enquiry and we will build to them.
| Requirement | How the container meets it |
|---|---|
| Covered area protected from the weather | Closed galvanised body and sandwich-panel roof |
| Impermeable floor | Leak-tight spill sump under the grating |
| Wastes must not be mixed | Compartmented layout and separate sumps |
| Absorbent material for spills | Spill kit and equipment location |
| Each waste labelled (waste code, hazard properties) | Sign and label board |
| Fire extinguisher on hand | Fire extinguisher bracket |
| Ventilation and protection against unauthorised access | Louvres and lockable door |
Then there is time. Many rules limit how long hazardous waste can stay on site. Go too small and you call the contractor more often; go too big and the container takes up space for nothing. Tell us how much waste builds up between collections and we will find the right size together.
This is for guidance only. Permits and compliance are assessed by your environmental officer and the local authority; we build the container to the requirements they set.
Modules often planned with a waste container
What is a waste storage container?
A waste storage container is a closed, lockable container where hazardous waste, chemicals and waste oils are kept until a licensed contractor collects them. The floor is galvanised grating with a leak-tight sump underneath, so if a drum tips over the liquid stays in the sump instead of running out. Vents stop vapour from building up inside.
What is the difference between a hazardous waste container and a chemical waste container?
A hazardous waste container is the more general one: oily rags, dirty packaging, filters and so on wait in separate bays. A chemical waste container is built for liquid chemicals. The sump coating is chosen for chemical resistance, substances that could react get separate sumps, and ventilation is increased for the vapour.
How is the spill sump volume determined?
A common rule is to size the sump to hold 110% of the largest container or 25% of the total volume stored, whichever is greater. For four IBCs (4,000 L), for example, the sump must hold at least 1,100 L. The final figure is set in the design according to local regulations and your site permit.
Can a waste container be built to my dimensions?
Yes. Besides the standard 240×600 cm and 300×700 cm sizes, we build to the dimensions you need based on the number of containers and the space on site. Door width, number of compartments and sump layout are also set per project.
What is needed for flammable substances?
For flammable liquids and vapours we recommend fan-assisted ventilation, ATEX-rated (ex-proof) lighting and switches, earthing of the body and sump, and a fire extinguisher; mineral wool core panels can be considered. We specify the equipment with you based on the safety data sheets (SDS) of the substances.
Can hazardous and non-hazardous waste be stored in the same container?
No. Hazardous and non-hazardous waste should be stored separately and not in the same container, so we plan a separate container for packaging and recycling waste. Within hazardous waste, substances that may react with each other are also kept in separate compartments.
How is a waste container installed, and can it be moved?
It arrives finished from the factory. It is set down on level, solid ground by crane or forklift, earthed and, if needed, connected to power, and that is it. If you want to move it later, empty and clean it first, then lift it to the new spot.
What does the price of a waste container depend on?
The price depends on size, sump volume and coating, number of compartments, ventilation and electrical equipment, door type, quantity and delivery location. Share your waste types and container quantities and we will prepare a firm quotation.
Do you rent out waste containers?
No. Alfa Konteyner is a manufacturer; we build waste containers for sale, tailored to your project.
Do you deliver outside Türkiye?
Yes. Containers are shipped fully assembled; freight, insurance and delivery terms are set out in the quotation. Simply include your country and delivery site with your enquiry.
Tell us what you need to store
For a first quote we only need the waste types, how many drums or IBCs, and where the container will go. We will reply with a written quote including size and equipment.