Large, vented cells must be shipped according to DOT regulations which are found in 49 CFR 173.159 Batteries, wet. Inmetco requires that they are stacked, banded or shrink wrapped to a pallet or shipped in DOT approved 55-gallon drums. Inmetco also requires the drums to be secured to a pallet. Some railroads ship spent batteries in DOT approved, heavy-duty, returnable, plastic tote containers. Spent vented cell nickel-cadmium batteries often contain potassium hydroxide, which is corrosive.
Containers also require hazardous waste labels.
The U.S. EPA requires paperwork that tracks hazardous waste from the cradle to the grave. Or in the case of spent nickel-cadmium batteries, from the time a waste battery is generated until it is processed. This paper trail starts with the EPA ID number, which the generator usually gets from the state environmental agency. The number goes on the hazardous waste manifest, the key document in the hazardous waste tracking system. The generator of any hazardous waste tracking system.