Ice packs can be one of the largest waste streams generated in a lab that utilizes cold storage. Ice packs can also take up precious space in cold storage units. We encourage researchers to reuse an ice pack until it is no longer effective. The ice packs are composed of a #4 plastic, a material which is not disposable in the plastic receptacles found throughout UAB’s campus. To address the abundance of ice packs across campus, UAB Green Labs has partnered with the Albertville-Boaz Recycling Center to implement a #4 plastics recycling program.

How Are Ice Packs and Other #4 Plastics Recycled?

1. The ice packs and other #4 plastics are collected by UAB Green Labs and transported to the Albertville-Boaz Recycling Center.
2. The recycling center uses these #4 plastics and processes them and distributes the plastics to vendors that use #4 plastics.

How to Participate in #4 Plastics/Ice Pack Recycling

1. Place ice packs and/or #4 plastics in a cardboard box. Allow ice packs to dry before placing them in the box.
2. Email labrecycling@uab.edu to make an appointment with UAB Green Labs to collect the ice packs and/or other #4 plastics. Include the following information :
   • Building
   • Room number
   • Point of contact for the lab

Pipette tip boxes are one of the largest streams of waste in labs on UAB’s campus. The pipette tip boxes are composed of a #5 plastic, a material which is not disposable in the plastic receptacles found throughout UAB’s campus. Due to the quality and abundance of this plastic, many researchers have shown a strong desire to recycle these boxes. As a result, UAB Green Labs Program has partnered with the Albertville-Boaz Recycling Center to implement a Recycling Program for pipette tip boxes.

Also, consider purchasing pipet tip refills for your boxes.

How Are Pipette Tip Boxes Recycled?

1. The pipette tip boxes are collected by a UAB Sustainability and transported to the Albertville-Boaz Recycling Center.
2. The recycling center grinds the pipette tip boxes into pellets and donates the pellets to companies using #5 plastics.

How to Participate in Pipette Tip Box Recycling

1. Autoclave all pipette tip boxes which the lab intends to recycle to eliminate any chances of contaminants coming in contact with any individuals at UAB Green Labs or the recycling center.
2. Email labrecycling@uab.edu to make an appointment with UAB Green Labs to collect the pipette tip boxes. Please include the building, room number, and point of contact for the lab.

Polystyrene, generally referred to by the name-brand Styrofoam, is the main pollutant in American oceans and waterways. Polystyrene is also the primary source of urban litter in American cities. Due to the environmental impact polystyrene has on the environment and on ecosystems around the world, UAB has partnered with the Albertville-Boaz Recycling Center to implement a pilot program for polystyrene recycling.

What Will Be Recycled/Reused?

How Are Polystyrene Coolers Recycled?

1. The coolers are collected by UAB Sustainability and transported to the Albertville-Boaz Recycling Center.
2. The recycling center melts and molds the coolers and sells the product to companies using polystyrene.
3. How Is #6 Plastic Recycled?
4. The #6 plastic is collected by UAB Green Labs and transported to the Albertville-Boaz Recycling Center.
5. The recycling center processes them and distributes the plastics to vendors that use #6 plastic.

How to Participate in Polystyrene/Styrofoam Recycling

1. Please request pickup for no more than 5 coolers at a time.
2. Email labrecycling@uab.edu to make an appointment with UAB Green Labs to collect the coolers. Please include the building, room number, and point of contact for the lab.

How Is Aluminum Foil Recycled?

1. The aluminum foil is collected by UAB Green Labs and transported to a center for scrap metal.

How to Participated in Aluminum Foil Recycling

1. Please place aluminum foil that has not come into contact with food or biohazardous material in a cardboard box.
2. Email labrecycling@uab.edu to make an appointment with UAB Green Labs to collect the aluminum foil. Please include the building, room number, and point of contact for the lab.

Glass is one of the most utilized pieces of equipment in laboratories. Glass can be stored indefinitely and often occupies cabinet and bench space. Although reusable, a lot of glass is housed with no plans of disposal. To address the glass accumulation problem on campus, UAB Green Labs has partnered with the Albertville-Boaz Recycling Center. Glass must be unbroken. There cannot be chips, cracks, or any damage to the glassware.

How Is Unbroken Glass Recycled?

1. Glass must be cleaned before submitting a recycling pick-up request. Stained glass will not be accepted.
2. The unbroken glass is collected by UAB Green Labs and transported to the Albertville-Boaz Recycling Center.
3. The recycling center processes the glass and sends it to vendors that accept recycled glass.

How to Participate in Glass Recycling

1. Place clean, unbroken glass in a cardboard box.
2. Email labrecycling@uab.edu to make an appointment with UAB Green Labs to collect the unbroken glass. Please include the building, room number, and point of contact for the lab.

Reusable Glass Inventory

How to Receive or Donate Lab Glass

1. If donating glassware, please place glass in a cardboard box.
2. If receiving glassware, please email labrecycling@uab.edu with type, size, and quantity of glassware you wish to receive. Please include the building, room number, and point of contact for the lab.