My kid is in 6th grade, which is middle school in these parts. He did his science project over the Christmas break, which involved a Daniels battery (zinc, copper, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate).<p>Although his science teacher had agreed to take the solutions for disposal before the break, I was still cautious when I brought them in first day after break. I left everything in the car, went to the office, asked them to call the teacher to get his permission, and <i>then</i> brought the chemicals in, all the while trying to look like a straight citizen as I walked by the sheriff parked out front as usual. I had exactly the OP's scenario in mind. No sense pushing things when the world is nuts.