BEBio Lab Recycling Initiative
What common lab items can my local municipality recycle?
polyethylene terephthalate |
hi-density polyethylene |
polyvinyl chloride |
low-denisty polyethylene |
polypropylene |
polystyrene |
other plastics |
| soft drink bottles, mineral water, fruit juice container, cooking oil | milk jugs, cleaning agents, lanudry detergents, bleaching agents, shampoo bottles, washing and shower soaps | trays for sweets, fruit, plastic packing (bubble foil) and food foils to wrap the foodstuff | crushed bottles, shopping bags, highlyresistant sacks and most of the wrappings | furniture, consumers, luggage, toys as well as bumpers, lining and external borders of the cars | toys, hard packing, refrigerator trays, cosmetic bags, costume jewellery, CD cases, vending cups | inlcuding acrylic, polycarbonate, polyactic fibers, nylon, fiberglass |
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polyethylene terephthalatesoft drink bottles, mineral water, fruit juice container, cooking oil |
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hi-density polyethylenemilk jugs, cleaning agents, lanudry detergents, bleaching agents, shampoo bottles, washing and shower soaps |
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polyvinyl chloridetrays for sweets, fruit, plastic packing (bubble foil) and food foils to wrap the foodstuff |
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low-denisty polyethylenecrushed bottles, shopping bags, highlyresistant sacks and most of the wrappings |
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polypropylenefurniture, consumers, luggage, toys as well as bumpers, lining and external borders of the cars |
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polystyrenetoys, hard packing, refrigerator trays, cosmetic bags, costume jewellery, CD cases, vending cups |
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other plasticsinlcuding acrylic, polycarbonate, polyactic fibers, nylon, fiberglass |
Hard Plastic – typically Recyclable through the municipality
Plastic film - Not recyclable through the municipality
The most basic guidance for recycling is based on the chasing arrows number found on the bottom of many plastic and glass items. Items labelled with a 1 and 2 are almost always recyclable, provided they are cleaned properly. Number 5 items are generally recyclable by municipal waste management.
Items with a 3, 4, or 6 are rarely recyclable through the regular stream. However, there are many specialized services that work with labs who produce large quantities of plastic.
Please note that recyclables should not be placed in a plastic bag – this will often lead to them simply being thrown out. Put your recyclable items directly into the bin. See below for images of common lab items that can and cannot be recycled through the municipal waste stream.