zero waste - polycarbin

Why do we not recycle gloves?

The materials used to make gloves are often not recyclable in a meaningful way, and so the process is considered downcycling. This means the product is recycled into another lower quality product that may not be recyclable (eg. recycling nitrile gloves into plastic pellets to make tires). This does not align with the circular economy framework used by Cal Zero Waste. There are many other companies that do gloves recycling, but labs should set that up independently.

What can go in the Polycarbin bins?

Recycling Protocol Decision Tree – Polycarbin

Permitted in Bins:

Plastic type 1 (PETE)

Items with stickers/labels still attached

BSL1

Rinse bottles that contained U-List chemicals

Prohibited Items:...

Need more bins?

Submit a service request through Facilities Services: FS - Submit Service Request

Why does our Polycarbin program not take plastics 3, 4 & 7?

Plastic type 3 is PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and is not recyclable due to the toxic chemicals that are released during its breakdown process.

Plastic type 4 is LDPE (low density polyethylene) and is often a softer plastic type, which our program is not set to recycle.

Plastic type 7 consists of all Polycarbonates and “other” plastic types, meaning there is no set standard for how they should be recycled.