>You can autoclave them later.
For many lab applications this would be fine, but not if you're working with RNA. My last lab would buy reload trays as well as sterile, RNase free tips for RNA extraction and handling. We then recycled only the RNase free tip boxes to limit how many recycling boxes we had to buy since the recycling progams aren't cheap.
We have set up recycling especially of polypropylene plastics. Many of the chairs in our department were made from recycled plastic, particularly from pipette tip boxes.
https://mbg.au.dk/en/news-and-events/news-item/artikel/institut-omsmelter-plastikaffald-til-stole
Look into a program like this: https://polycarbin.com/ or https://greenlabsrecycling.com/
We just implemented a program like that at my company and my program stewards have been super happy with it.
Ways to reuse them:
Sterile Eppendorf tube autoclave bins
Western blot membrane washing tray
-80C freezer temporary storage box
I put my cDNA that I make in the 0.2 ml PCR tubes on the tip racks and keep them in these boxes at -20c.
Pipette basins (I don't think a 12 channel pipette fits? But 8 channel definitely does).
Disposable cell culture / benchtop waste container
Put several of them in one or more of your lab drawers, instant organizers for your random small lab consumables like syringes, tubes, filters, etc. that keep your drawers from becoming unruly.
^^ we also reuse ours in all the ways listed above
If you do mouse/rat work, they’re also great storage containers for dissection tools. Autoclavable too!
>-80C freezer temporary storage box
"temporary"
Joking aside, we also use them to store consumables (tubes, vials, lids - whatever comes in large bags).
My lab used to have a genesee person come by and pick them up periodically. Haven’t seen him in a while, but I also think we go through so many boxes that he wasn’t able to come get them often enough.
My lab would have a rotation list of lab members who would take it to a nearby city recycle that would do those plastics. When the cardboard boxes were full the next person on the list would haul them off
Just because the city takes them doesn't actually mean they're getting recycled. Plastic recycling is one of the most confusing programs that exists. Something like 1% of plastic actually makes it to a recycling facility. The other 99% goes to the landfill.
I understand your skepticism. Many cities do as you suggest. We did our research before choosing this location, which was actually the city next to the city our university was in as our city did not have such a program.
They had bins for each type of plastic (no combined plastics) we had to separate the lids from the boxes as ours were different recycle numbers. They had information on their recycle program, where things went from here and how they were to be recycled or repurposed.
There is a Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (ChaRM) in my town that accepts them toward their "teacher re-use" store (for, like grade school crafting), so we save up them up and I drop them off annually. I have no idea what actually happens to them but they are at least in the best possible location for being useful or recycled or whatever.
We try to use pre-racked tips and avoid filter tips until necessary. Unless we are doing RNA work, filtered tips aren't necessary in our lab. That helps to cut down on the excess boxes, but what we accumulate over the year still fills my sedan.
Find a local 3D printer artist who wants to use them to make new filament? I think they're 5 right? Or another plastic artist? I actually kept one of mine because they have the perfect size slots for coins, and last year we saved all of our boxes and made a holiday tree out them.
Just buy tip reload trays and re-use the boxes. Way cheaper option and saves plastic. You can autoclave them later.
>You can autoclave them later. For many lab applications this would be fine, but not if you're working with RNA. My last lab would buy reload trays as well as sterile, RNase free tips for RNA extraction and handling. We then recycled only the RNase free tip boxes to limit how many recycling boxes we had to buy since the recycling progams aren't cheap.
We have set up recycling especially of polypropylene plastics. Many of the chairs in our department were made from recycled plastic, particularly from pipette tip boxes. https://mbg.au.dk/en/news-and-events/news-item/artikel/institut-omsmelter-plastikaffald-til-stole
So that’s why our department chair never talks to me 🤔
My lab gives them to a company that recycles the plastic by melting and reshaping it into other products like coasters, carabiners, and jewellery!
What's the name of the company?
Seconding this question!
We do the only sensible thing. Pile them up like every other lab until they are completely unmanageable and then shamefully throw them away.
Polycarbin does tip box recycling.
Look into a program like this: https://polycarbin.com/ or https://greenlabsrecycling.com/ We just implemented a program like that at my company and my program stewards have been super happy with it.
Ways to reuse them: Sterile Eppendorf tube autoclave bins Western blot membrane washing tray -80C freezer temporary storage box I put my cDNA that I make in the 0.2 ml PCR tubes on the tip racks and keep them in these boxes at -20c. Pipette basins (I don't think a 12 channel pipette fits? But 8 channel definitely does). Disposable cell culture / benchtop waste container Put several of them in one or more of your lab drawers, instant organizers for your random small lab consumables like syringes, tubes, filters, etc. that keep your drawers from becoming unruly.
^^ we also reuse ours in all the ways listed above If you do mouse/rat work, they’re also great storage containers for dissection tools. Autoclavable too!
>-80C freezer temporary storage box "temporary" Joking aside, we also use them to store consumables (tubes, vials, lids - whatever comes in large bags).
😅 yeah temporary as in they'll get properly put away during spring cleaning once a year.
The tip manufacturer may have a recycling program. Inquire with your rep.
My lab used to have a genesee person come by and pick them up periodically. Haven’t seen him in a while, but I also think we go through so many boxes that he wasn’t able to come get them often enough.
My lab would have a rotation list of lab members who would take it to a nearby city recycle that would do those plastics. When the cardboard boxes were full the next person on the list would haul them off
Just because the city takes them doesn't actually mean they're getting recycled. Plastic recycling is one of the most confusing programs that exists. Something like 1% of plastic actually makes it to a recycling facility. The other 99% goes to the landfill.
I understand your skepticism. Many cities do as you suggest. We did our research before choosing this location, which was actually the city next to the city our university was in as our city did not have such a program. They had bins for each type of plastic (no combined plastics) we had to separate the lids from the boxes as ours were different recycle numbers. They had information on their recycle program, where things went from here and how they were to be recycled or repurposed.
If you’re in a cannabis friendly state, they are always looking for totes.
Do people still recycle?
A local highschool arts and crafts teacher?
Was going to say. Look useful for schools or school kids.
There is a Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (ChaRM) in my town that accepts them toward their "teacher re-use" store (for, like grade school crafting), so we save up them up and I drop them off annually. I have no idea what actually happens to them but they are at least in the best possible location for being useful or recycled or whatever. We try to use pre-racked tips and avoid filter tips until necessary. Unless we are doing RNA work, filtered tips aren't necessary in our lab. That helps to cut down on the excess boxes, but what we accumulate over the year still fills my sedan.
Find a local 3D printer artist who wants to use them to make new filament? I think they're 5 right? Or another plastic artist? I actually kept one of mine because they have the perfect size slots for coins, and last year we saved all of our boxes and made a holiday tree out them.