The UGA Green Labs program is working to create a laboratory recycling program to divert recoverable materials from the landfill. It is our mission to have a robust, campus-wide laboratory recycling program to serve our research areas. A limited lab-specific waste audit conducted on campus in 2018 revealed that nearly 80% of our laboratory waste could potentially be recovered, recycled, or composted.
The Green Labs program works in partnership with Waste Reduction Services, Athens Clarke County Recycling Division and campus research labs to further these efforts. We also work closely with the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories Laboratory Waste Landfill Diversion Working Group.
#2 and #5 Small Lab Plastics Recycling is currently available to ALL campus labs willing to transport these items to an off-campus location. Labs must consult with and receive approval from UGA Green Labs before beginning recycling.
How to Join
- Contact [email protected] to schedule a consult and enroll in this program. Consultation and approval is required to participate.
Accepted Materials
- Any non-hazardous #2 or #5 lab plastic smaller than a football (e.g., pipette tips, tip boxes, lids, inserts, tubes)
- Confirm that your polymers are #2 and #5 (No clear trays, pipette tip box covers, or pipette tip holders — all of these are clear, thin plastic and usually not #2 or #5.)
Lab Recycling Guidelines
- Consult with UGA Green Labs to gain approval prior to recycling
- No lab plastics in the single stream recycling – lab materials placed in the single stream will likely result in the entire lot being landfilled.
- Lab recycling must be non-hazardous, clean and dry.
- No pellets or biological material.
- No biological, chemical or radiological hazards (no chemical containers, even empty ones).
- Stack and densify materials when possible (e.g., pipette tip boxes).
- When in doubt, please reach out to [email protected] for guidance.
- Due to the regulatory component of many laboratory waste streams, it is of utmost importance users adhere to guidelines and not “wish cycle” unwanted items.
