As first reported in an October 10 posting of deseretnews.com (a Salt Lake City, Utah, online news source), a retired Box Elder County chemist’s self storage units were discovered to be full of cans with unknown hazardous chemicals, requiring a hazardous materials (hazmat) team to spend several days cleaning them out.
Box Elder County authorities received a call Thursday (October 8) that bays in storage facilities in South Willard and Perry were filled with legal chemicals, some of which were mixed together and potentially dangerous.
This renter had begun collecting various chemicals to experiment with propellant for model rockets and creating a waterproof resin for roofs. A friend of the family had been tasked with organizing and cleaning out the bays at Easy Access in South Willard and Double D Storage in Perry when the potentially dangerous chemicals were found.
"It will take several days," said Box Elder County Chief Deputy Kevin Potter. "(Workers) will have to go, one by one, in suits to clear out every container in seven storage bays."
Police said the paint cans may be filled with paint, however, some of contain mixed chemicals, making it necessary to check every can.
For safety reasons, both storage facilities will be off limits to people for at least a few days; the costs associated with the proper cleanup and disposal can be quite hefty.
Unfortunately, the discovery of hazardous materials in a self storage unit can happen to even the most fastidious self storage operator. There are an increasing number of reports of renters
dumping tires, oil, gasoline and even biohazardous chemicals in rented storage units. Prevention is the best approach, although some renters may be storing prohibited material unknowingly.
Experts advise storage operators to post clear signage prohibiting the storage of hazardous or toxic materials in their units, and reinforcing this policy by including it in all of their lease agreements. Furthermore, they recommend reminding existing tenants of this policy by posting signs in the rental offices and throughout their facilities. The goal is to educate uninformed tenants, as well as "scaring off" potential dumpers.