Lab Recycling

What’s recyclable in labs

Labs play a pivotal role in contributing to waste diversion at Yale.

Lab recycling is a unique stream of materials that requires adhering to specific regulations. To be recycled, all containers must be triple-rinsed and labels defaced. Do not recycle any container previously holding acutely hazardous materials.

Recyclable

All glass, plastic, and metal containers that are triple-rinsed and defaced that once contained liquid chemicals (exceptions include any acid, base, or acutely hazardous chemical container)
Aluminum foils and trays
Cardboard (flattened)
Glass bottles (triple rinsed and tops removed)
Office paper
Paperboard
Pipette tip boxes
Plastic bottles (tripled rinsed)

Not recyclable

Any acid, base, or acutely hazardous chemical container
Bubble wrap
Items with biological, radiological, or chemical materials
Plastic film, soft plastic
Plastic safety-coated glass bottles
Pyrex
Rubber-coated chemical bottles
Rubber gloves
Sharps
Styrofoam, block foam