Green Purchasing and Services Recommendations

Recycling

Terracycle's "EasyPak" Recycling Program:

It's more than just a box. EasyPak™ recycling containers are the safe and easy way to recycle your facilities’ fluorescent bulbs*, batteries, and ballasts. One price includes everything you need, the UN Certified container, shipping to the recycling center, recycling fees, and certificate of recycling.”

*Only fluorescent bulbs used on lab equipment are to be recycled through this program.

Link: https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/regulated_waste_recycling/easypak-8-fluorescent-lamp-recycling

Battery Recycling:

Make use of Texas A&M’s already established battery recycling program. Some notes regarding the program…

  1. Alkaline batteries do not need to be recycled. Officially the University can dispose of around 180,000 lbs of alkaline batteries a day in the normal trash.
  2. Batteries that are not alkaline can be recycled by being placed in a battery box provided by the Chemical Waste Program.
  3. It’s only feasible for an individual lab to have a battery box if they are going to be using lots of non-alkaline batteries. What may be better is to have the building manager place a collective battery box for all the labs in a building.

Contact Jason Ward (Chemical Waste Program Manager, Environmental Health and Safety Dept.) for more Information:

(979) 845-3498; jsward@tamu.edu

Electronic Recycling:

All electronic, cords, etc. purchased by Texas A&M are to be de-inventoried and brought to Building 0957 (Storage and Purchasing) in lieu of being thrown away. From there, these used pieces of equipment will be auctioned off. This prevents these pieces of equipment from going to a landfill and gives them a second life.

Link: https://logistics.tamu.edu/surplus-property/property-transfer-procedures.html

Kimberly Clark PPE Recycling:

“Kimberly-Clark Professional is committed to leading the way to zero waste in landfills. That’s why we created The RightCycle™ Program—our industry-changing initiative that takes recycling personal protection equipment (PPE) to a new level. Instead of used PPE such as protective clothing, nitrile gloves and safety glasses going into the trash (and landfills), these previously hard-to-recycle items are collected at your facility and turned into new consumer goods.”

Link: https://www.kcprofessional.com/en-us/solutions/rightcycle-by-kimberly-clark-professional

VWR Garment Recycling:

“This easy-to-use recycling program provides a complete waste collection, shipment and recycling solution for used disposable apparel. The plastic waste is recycled into resin that is used to make permanent infrastructure including composite decking, railroad ties and drainage pipes.”

Link: https://us.vwr.com/cms/sustainability_vwr_recycling_waste_diversion_solutions

Triumvirate Env. Medical Waste Recycling:

“Rather than dump regulated medical waste in landfills, more and more generators of regulated medical waste are using our innovative and sustainable Red2Green program to recycle red bag medical waste into plastic lumber for valuable uses in landscaping, construction, pallets, trucks & trailers, and other markets. Reduce your costs and improve your sustainability metrics by sending your regulated medical waste to Triumvirate.”

Link: https://www.triumvirate.com/services/waste-disposal-management/industrial-waste-recycling-solutions/regulated-medical-waste-recycling

Pipet Tip Box Recycling Program, TerraCycle Managed by VWR:

“This easy-to-use recycling program provides a complete waste collection, shipment, and recycling solution for used pipet tip boxes. All brands of plastic pipet tip boxes are accepted. The plastic waste is ground, melted, and pelletized through extrusion by TerraCycle to create recycled resin.“

Link:https://us.vwr.com/store/catalog/product.jsp?catalog_number=89234-732

Corning Recycling Program:

“Don't throw away your Corning®, Falcon®, or Axygen® product packaging. Recycle it through Corning’s packaging recycle program. At Corning, we believe that protecting the environment makes good business sense. We are committed to protecting the environment through continuous improvement of our processes, products, and services. In 2014, Corning was named an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year, one of the Environmental Protection Agency’s most prestigious honors. It’s our desire to empower our customers' research while being good stewards of the environment. With this goal in mind, we offer select customers free participation in our packaging recycling program.”

Link: https://corning.mailthisback.com/

New England Bio Labs Sustainable Cold Shipping & Polystyrene Recycling:

“A 100% recyclable alternative to EPS shipping We are thrilled to be introducing a 100% recyclable alternative to EPS shipping that maintains the same cold shipping temperature. To implement this, we have partnered with TemperPack®, a U.S. company that focuses on providing sustainable solutions for cold chain shipping. ClimaCell® is a paper-based insert that can maintain the required temperature conditions for the duration of your product’s delivery. And the best part – the entire box can be recycled with other corrugated cardboard after unpacking!”

Link: https://www.neb.com/about-neb/environmental-commitment/nebs-climacell-shipper

Aerosol Can Recycling Through VWR:

“Recycling system easily punctures aerosol cans, rendering them exempt from hazardous waste regulations when properly emptied.”

Link: https://us.vwr.com/store/catalog/product.jsp?catalog_number=10811-224

Millipore Sigma Polystyrene Cooler Return Program:

“For our customers in the United States we are pleased to offer a polystyrene cooler return program to help reduce waste sent to landfills.”

Link: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/chemistry/greener-alternatives/polystyrene-cooler-return-program.html

Green Purchasing

Lab Conscious Green Lab Supplies and Purchasing Guide:

The Lab Conscious Green Lab Supplies and Purchasing Guide is an excellent one stop shop to find sustainable lab equipment.

Link: https://www.labconscious.com/green-lab-supplies-and-lab-equipment-guide

Green Purchasing and Services Recommendation in PDF.