Surplus Property

For eligible sales, Surplus Property retains the first $250 from each sale to help cover operating costs. When an item sells for more than $250, departments may receive a percentage of the amount above $250 if a departmental MoCode is included on Form UM 27.

Some categories of items/materials should not be offered or transferred to Surplus and will not be accepted for sale to the public. Any existing, inapplicable warning labels should be defaced prior to disposal.

• Asbestos-containing items/materials (in poor or deteriorating condition): Known asbestos-containing items must be managed according to your campus environmental health and safety policy and University Policy 13103: Asbestos; Application, Removal, Disturbance & Disposal.
  • E.g., lab bench tops, black boards and fume hoods in deteriorating condition 
• Laboratory or “waste-like” chemicals/items: Chemicals or itemswhich could be potentially characterized as hazardous waste.
  • E.g., acids, bases, solvents, solid (dry) chemicals, leaking lead-acid batteries, broken fluorescent lamps, chemicals in deteriorating containers, etc.
• Laser-producing equipment (high-powered): Laser-producing equipment with rating markings of “Class 3B” (“IIIb”) or “Class 4” (“IV”) must be managed according to your campus environmental health and safety policy.
• Radioactive sources or equipment: Equipment containing radioactive sources may be considered 'Generally Licensed Devices' by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and must be managed according to campus environmental health and safety policy. 
  • E.g., liquid scintillation counters, electron capture detectors, gas chromatograph units, fixed gauging devices, static eliminators, luminous exit signs, calibration or reference standards, some ice detection devices and in vitro laboratory kits
• Universal waste: Material which could be characterized as 'universal waste' in Missouri. 
  • E.g., fluorescent and other lamps/light bulbs (high-pressure sodium, mercury vapor, metal halide and high-intensity discharge) and mercury-containing equipment (thermostats, switches and thermometers).
• X-Ray equipment: Must be managed in accordance with campus environmental health and safety policy and Missouri Radiation Control Program guidance. May be sold as scrap, but first must be rendered inoperable by a qualified technician.

Surplus cannot accept some items unless they have appropriately prepared prior to transfer. Any warning labels that no longer apply should be defaced prior to disposal in a sanitary landfill or transfer to Surplus in addition to the following: 

• Chemicals: Any commercial, non-laboratory chemicals must be in non-leaking containers with original, legible, manufacturer’s labels and in good, saleable condition.
  • E.g., adhesives, paint, polyurethane and other surface finishes, cleaning compounds, pesticides, etc. 
• Drums, barrels, other empty recyclable metal/plastic chemical containers: Empty metal drums or other containers that contained chemical materials (solvents, oil, cleaning products) must be completely emptied and reasonably cleaned of any residual material.
• Electrical, hydraulic and other equipment and/or components sold as scrap: A qualified technician must remove oils and other fluids and eliminate electrical hazards.
  • E.g., transformers, capacitors, switches, fluorescent lamp ballasts, vacuum pumps
• Gas cylinders: Cylinders must be empty and depressurized and in acceptable condition to be sold as scrap (valve removed or cylinder otherwise cut open).
• Laboratory equipment: Laboratory equipment that has been in contact with hazardous chemical, biological or radiological material must be cleaned and decontaminated. If an item cannot be declared free of hazards to handlers, then it must be managed as solid (municipal) waste.
  • E.g., glassware, refrigerators, freezers, centrifuges, incubators, chemical fume hoods, biological safety cabinets
• Refrigerant-containing equipment (for scrap): When items will be sold as scrap, any refrigerant (e.g., Freon) or other chemicals must be removed by a qualified individual and cleaned/decontaminated. 
  • E.g., air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, water fountains, dehumidifiers, etc.
• Refrigerators, freezers (functional): Any refrigerator or freezer that stored non-food items must be cleaned/decontaminated, and must be indelibly marked “Not for Human Consumables.” If the item is unsaleable as a working unit (e.g., history unknown, obvious odors, stains remaining), then it must be marked “Scrap only - Not for reuse” and sold as scrap.

Any items originating from laboratories, or have been in contact with hazardous materials must be cleaned and decontaminated appropriately for handling, with all hazardous materials removed. This includes items sold as scrap.

In general, cleaning should include:

1. Removal of any gross or notable contamination
2. A wipe down with a 10% bleach solution
3. A wipe down with a solution of liquid detergent (not containing ammonia) and water. 

Items from laboratories determined to be sold as scrap must be indelibly marked or labeled in a conspicuous location with “Scrap only - Not for reuse.”

Proper disposal and recycling requirements still apply to items that cannot be sold or transferred through Surplus. All parties, including Surplus Property, must comply with applicable state and federal laws governing the disposal of unsold materials. Questions regarding disposal requirements should be directed to your local Environmental Health and Safety office. See the Risk & Insurance Management Insurance resources for contact information. 

Scrap metal materials or electronic items containing regulated metals, such as lead, silver, cadmium and chromium, must be recycled or disposed of properly if not sold.

• E.g., sheet metal, solder, filings, circuit boards and computer hardware.