In response to your question about placental disposal, the labor and
delivery department can store these placentas that are not for initial
pathology examination in a refrigerator (store in their department
refrigerator for 3 days and then they dispose when deemed not necessary
for examination, not in pathology where they would probably need to be
given an accession number).  See the CAP website for downloading a
practice parameter for examination of placentas
http://www.cap.org/html/ftpdirectory.html
No need to put formalin on them unless they are going to be sent to
pathology.  Do not freeze the placentas as this will not allow for the
placenta to be examined at a later date.  

Can you not get cheaper buckets for short term storage?  One hospital I
worked at used wax buckets for the placentas, much like buckets you get
fried chicken in!  

Hope this helps.

Rosanna Lapham MD
Pathologist
Spartanburg, SC
rlapham@srhs.com