All empty chemical containers shall be triple rinsed, collecting the rinsate as hazardous waste, prior to disposal, recycling, or reuse. Clearly deface the label or write EMPTY on the label.  Dispose of empty bottles in lab trash. Empty glass containers may be placed broken glass boxes or lab trash. Chemical container recycling and reuse require additional considerations detailed below.

Recycling Guidelines & Restrictions

EHS collaborates with UVA Sustainability and Recycling to establish safe and compliant recycling practices for laboratories.

Be aware that no aluminum or glass containers from laboratories are accepted by UVA Recycling. 

Although plastics 1-7 can be recycled at UVA, only tissue culture media bottles and alcohol bottles are accepted from labs. Chemical containers must be rinsed with no standing liquid and be clearly labeled EMPTY to be accepted by UVA Recycling. Materials MUST be placed in recycling bins and MUST NOT be left on a loading dock.

If you have questions about what can or cannot be recycled at UVA, email [email protected] for clarification. If possible, include a photo or SKU# of the material. 

The recycling guidelines posters are available for download on the UVA Green Labs website (Lab Plastics Recycling Do's | Lab Plastics Recycling Do Nots) and individual hard copies can be requested by emailing [email protected].

Reusing Containers

If reusing an empty glass or plastic container for waste collection, it is advisable to ONLY use the empty container for a similar and compatible material as compared to the original contents! For example, use an empty ethanol bottle for non-halogenated solvent waste collection. Chemical reactions, leading to bottle explosions, have occurred when using empty plastic alcohol bottles for acid waste, even after rinsing!