Definition of 'Empty'

Definition of 'Empty'

It is necessary to understand what is meant by "Empty" as there are specific exemptions and allowances provided under the UK and European transport and waste regulations.

It is also important for both the users / emptiers of industrial packaging and their service providers (eg; reconditioners) to have a clear understanding of what is agreed when referring to "empty packaging".

Both the Department for Transport and Environment Agency have agreed with the IPA that, in conjunction with the actual statute law - the following definition of "empty" can be applied as follows:

"Empty" means as empty as practially possible, using practices commonly employed to remove material from the type of packaging involved - including pouring, pumping, aspirating, shaking, scraping, chipping etc. or if necessary a combination of these.

This means that, for a bung-type drum any free running liquid such as solvent can and should be poured out and be drip-dry to be considered empty. However, for the same type of (bung-closure) drum a highly viscous or setting product would not be expected to meet the same criteria - but should be within approximately 1% of the weight for the packaging itself. A drum that has a removable lid would be expected to have any such residue removed by scraping, chipping etc as this is practicable for this drum design.

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