Specialty Recycling in Labs

The Tufts University Campus Sustainability Council identified laboratories and hospital facilities as the greatest source of opportunity for increased sustainability on our campuses. Read on to learn about our current lab recycling initiatives.

*New* Pipette Tip Box Recycling 

We partner with Green Labs to recycle the plastic boxes in which pipette tips are stored and clean media bottles. Be sure to bag these recyclables and place them in the toter located at the loading dock behind the TTC on the Medford/Somerville campus. 

Want to recycle pipette tip boxes from your lab?

• Collect the following:
  • Empty pipette tip boxes and wafers (all brands)
  • Plastic conical tube racks
  • Media bottles (must be triple-rinsed)
  • Other #5 (PP) and #1 (PET) clean lab plastic can be accepted once first cleared by Green labs.
• Bag your accepted Lab recyclables
• Place them in the toter located at the loading dock behind the TTC

*Paused * Glove Recycling Program

Updated December 2021. The Glove Recycling program is still on pause at Kimberly-Clark is not able to produce the recyclable gloves at this time. Continue to check this page for the most up-to-date information.

The Tufts Green Fund has provided funding to pilot a nitrile glove recycling program. Tufts has partnered with Kimberly-Clark’s Nitrile Glove Recycling Program, RightCycle, to divert this waste to a more environmentally conscious life-cycle.

This program requires that labs use Kimberly-Clark brand nitrile gloves. Kimberly-Clark brand gloves are available through the Tufts Marketplace from Fisher Scientific and in most cases cost equal to or less than currently used gloves. Glove selection assistance and samples are available for interested labs.

Get Started

1. Contact john.yuen_jr@tufts.edu to enroll in the program. Your lab will fill out a brief questionnaire so that we can ensure you are eligible for the recycling program
2. Once approved, your lab will undergo a short training session on the program. Lab personnel oversee the program’s implementation in their lab.
3. Collect Kimberly-Clark nitrile gloves in the bin provided. Any gloves that are currently sent to the landfill are eligible for this program. This includes gloves not used with U or P class hazardous chemicals (as defined by the EPA) and gloves that would normally be autoclave sterilized before disposal.
4. When the bin is full:
   1. Check for and remove any non-glove items
   2. (If necessary) autoclave to sterilize following normal procedure
   3. Leave in central collection bin for recycling
5. When the central bin is picked-up, gloves are shipped to a facility where the material is processed into nitrile powder. This is molded into new eco-responsible plastic products and durable goods, including flowerpots, park benches, lawn furniture, and frisbees.

Corning, Falcon and Axygen Packaging Recycling

If your lab consumes Corning® products, including from Corning's Falcon® and Axygen® brands, don't throw away the packaging. Recycle it through Corning’s packaging takeback program. There are just three easy steps;

1. Pack the approved items
2. Print Corning's pre-paid mailing label
3. Attach label to your box and contact shipper

For details on what items are approved and to learn more about Corning’s Commitment to Environmental Protection, visit corning.mailthisback.com

Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

Keep an eye out for any shipments that may arrive at your laboratory packed with biodegradable packing peanuts. These packing peanuts are most often an off-white or cream color and will melt when put under water. Please collect biodegradable packing peanuts separately and compost them in a campus compost toter. To find the toter closest to you, visit the Tufts EcoMap.

General Lab Waste

In short, nothing that looks like it came out of a lab should go into the recycling bin, even if it's plastic or has the triangle on it. Only standard plastic, glass, and metal food and beverage containers, paper, and cardboard should go into the recycling bin.

All of the material below belong in the trash:

• Blue paper/any paper garb (hairnets, booties, Tyvek outfits)
• Gloves of any kind, but especially NOT blue** (see more about our nitrile glove recycling program)
• Large glass solution bottles
• Small glass solution bottles
• Paper or plastic from blister packs
• Plastic bags of any kind
• Plastic containers used for animals
• Plastic widgets
• Emetic basins or bedpans
• Saline bags and tubing
• Pipette tips

Please collect the following and recycle them in the designated toter behind the Science and Engineering Complex:

• Media bottles/Square solutions bottles made of #5 or #1 plastic
• Pipette tip boxes

Please do not allow workers to bring these items home to recycling in their residential bin. The recycling facility will then FAIL their residential load, along with their neighbor’s good recycling.