How to choose spill containment trays and waste containers

If you need to keep drums, jerrycans or tanks without risking leaks onto the floor, you need a spill containment tray with a volume suited to the containers standing on it. For general and sorted waste, you instead need bins or containers in a size that lets you empty them regularly. In the AMES collection, capacities range from about 120 to 1400 litres, in steel, polyethylene, polypropylene and stainless steel.

The types

• Spill containment trays for drums. They hold one or more 200-litre drums and retain any leaks. There are steel models, such as the Sall steel drum trays, and polyethylene ones, such as the Comi Storage tray for two 220-litre drums.
• Trays with handle and wheels. For moving the drums around the department, such as the two-drum tray with handle and wheels.
• Trays for IBC tanks. For 1000-litre containers, such as the Sall IBC tank trays and the tray with grating for one 1000-litre tank.
• Splash guards and tilted supports. Accessories to protect against splashes and to tilt the drums during dispensing, such as the splash guard for a 3-tank tray.
• Big bag holders. Structures to hold bags upright and fill them, such as the Sall big bag holder.
• Waste containers, Binny and ashtrays. Bins and waste containers for sorting, in plastic or steel, for indoor and outdoor use.

How to choose by job

The features to look at

• Capacity (litres). For a tray this is the containment volume, not the volume of the drums. The sump must be able to hold at least the leak from the largest container standing on it: check with a technician which rule applies in your case.
• Material. Painted or galvanised steel for strength, stainless steel for aggressive products, polyethylene and polypropylene to resist many substances and rust. Check compatibility with the substance you store.
• Dimensions. From a few tens of centimetres to trays of 2400 × 1420 × 1000 mm. Check the floor, the doors and the position of the drums.
• Construction features. Forkable to move them with a truck, stackable to save space, robust for heavy loads.
• Colour. Useful for telling waste streams and departments apart (RAL 6018, RAL 7016, black, grey, white, yellow, blue).

Common mistakes

• Choosing a tray that is too small. If the volume does not cover at least the largest container, the tray does not do its job.
• Putting incompatible substances together. Substances that react with each other must go in separate trays.
• Forgetting the label. The container must be clearly labelled, otherwise whoever comes next does not know what is in it.
• Never emptying the tray. Collected liquids must be removed regularly and disposed of through authorised channels.
• Not checking material compatibility. An acid in the wrong tray ruins it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose the volume of the tray?

Start from the largest container that stands on it. The tray must be able to retain at least that volume; the legal details depend on the case, so ask your safety officer.

Steel or polyethylene?

Steel is sturdier and withstands loads; polyethylene does not rust and resists many chemicals. The substance decides.

Can I move the tray with a truck?

Yes, if it is forkable. Check the lifting points on the product page.

Is the grating needed?

The grating keeps the drum raised above any leaks and makes cleaning easier. In liquid stores it is the most common choice.

All the models are in the Containers for Waste and Hazardous Materials collection: if in doubt about volume, material or compatibility, ask the AMES technicians for a quote or advice.