We have had a large collection of pharmaceutical bottles that we have been struggling with over the last several years. We have had a lot of trouble determining how to safely dispose of them. Our local hospital put me touch with a hazardous waste company that they use. Unfortunately, their price was way too high for us. In the process of their quoting, however, they identified three bottles that contained chemicals that become highly combustible and shock sensitive when dried out. (Which they had become after 80 years.) We worked with the local bomb squad to remove them! They were as concerned about the chemical as the waste company had been and used the occasion to get some training in with their robot.

The bomb squad’s suggestion for the rest of the bottle we have to deal with was to contact the Haz Mat unit at our local Fire Department. We have not yet done that but will be in the coming year. We will want to work with them to preserve the bottle for our collection while disposing of the contents. Needless to say our policy going forward is that we will not accept bottles with contents!

Hope this helps,

Laura B. Furman

Curator of Collections

Midway Village Museum

815-397-9112 x 108

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