Recycle
You finish drinking a bottle of water ... do you throw away the bottle, or do you recycle it?
You use up a bottle of PBS... do you throw away the bottle, or do you recycle it?
For years there has been a disconnect between the way we behave in our private lives, and the way we behave in the lab. One of the primary reasons for this is that until recently, it wasn't really possible to recycle many lab consumables. Not that they *couldn't* be recycled - no one would take them. But that tide is rapidly turning, as many waste management companies, and manufacturers, realize the value of recycling materials from the lab.
The options for recycling in your own laboratory are likely dictated by where you live and regulations in your country, city, and institution. Be aware that most laboratory materials can’t be mixed with other recyclables such as food containers and paper. Before you recycle laboratory materials in existing recycling waste bins, check that is appropriate to do so. Specifically, your local waste hauler, institutional safety officers, facilities management, and building management may need to be involved. Ask these groups about recycling at your facility - not every organization can recycle all of the materials listed below. And remember - as great as it is to recycle, it is better to eliminate the waste stream through reduction or reuse.
The following materials can be recycled:
You use up a bottle of PBS... do you throw away the bottle, or do you recycle it?
For years there has been a disconnect between the way we behave in our private lives, and the way we behave in the lab. One of the primary reasons for this is that until recently, it wasn't really possible to recycle many lab consumables. Not that they *couldn't* be recycled - no one would take them. But that tide is rapidly turning, as many waste management companies, and manufacturers, realize the value of recycling materials from the lab.
The options for recycling in your own laboratory are likely dictated by where you live and regulations in your country, city, and institution. Be aware that most laboratory materials can’t be mixed with other recyclables such as food containers and paper. Before you recycle laboratory materials in existing recycling waste bins, check that is appropriate to do so. Specifically, your local waste hauler, institutional safety officers, facilities management, and building management may need to be involved. Ask these groups about recycling at your facility - not every organization can recycle all of the materials listed below. And remember - as great as it is to recycle, it is better to eliminate the waste stream through reduction or reuse.
The following materials can be recycled:
- Gloves [note this is a special waste stream - gloves can be recycled by Kimberly-Clark or Terracycle]
- Pipette tip boxes
- Cardboard
- Conical tubes
- Centrifuge tubes
- Pipette tips
- Reagent and chemical bottles [ensure that these are clean per your institution's guidelines]
- Glass bottles
- Hazardous waste [note this is a specialized waste stream that may be handled by Triumvirate]
- Ink and toner cartridges
- Batteries