Sustainability @ LSI

Learn how to recycle or reuse various materials at the Life Sciences Centre.

Have leftover dry ice from shipments or need some for an experiment or package?

Visit the Dry Ice Box in the Styrofoam recycling area near the loading dock on B2 (just follow the signs). You can:

• Take what you need.
• Leave your recyclable dry ice leftovers for others.

Contact Nomo with questions, comments, or suggestions.

UBC generates 64-128 tones of lab plastic waste annually, much of it single-use and destined for landfills or incineration. The Lab Plastics Program provides guidelines and support for recycling lab materials.

Participating labs play a vital role by:

• Educating others about the program.
• Monitoring collections and ensuring only accepted materials are recycled.
• Coordinating the transfer of full bins to central recyclable containers within their buildings.

For more information, or to sign up, contact greenlabs.assistant@ubc.ca or click here.

Glass pipette washing racks are available in dishwashers at the following locations:

• 2nd Floor: Rm 2.339 (West)
• 3rd Floor: Rm 3.438 (Center)
• 4th Floor: Rm 4.438 (Center)
• 5th Floor: Rm 5.538 (East)

Note: If you use a rack from a different location, please return it to its original spot. These racks help reduce water consumption and plastic waste.

The LSI offers a convenient location to recycle your soft plastics and Styrofoam.

Location:

• B2 loading dock
• Soft plastics recycling is located in front of the Styrofoam recycling cage

Hints & Tips:

• Almost all soft plastics can be recycled!
• Please remove all stickers and tape from Styrofoam - they don't get recycled!

40% of eligible ULT freezers are now set to -70°C. Through Chill Up, LSI is saving over 71,500 kWh of electricity per year, equivalent to the annual electricity consumed by seven and a half single family homes.

Mask and Glove Disposal

• Disposable Masks: Use the receptacles at the main building entrances.
• Gloves: Collect gloves in your lab. When the bag is full, take it to the Waste Management Room (B2.205) and place it in the designated bin.

The LSI participates in UBC Green Labs' Amber Glass Recycling Program, which recycles amber glass into new bottles or sandblasting material, reducing landfill waste.

How to Participate:

• Collect amber glass containers (50ml-4L) in your lab.
• Remove caps and labels.
• Place the bottles in the central recycling bin outside the Styrofoam Cage by security in the B2 loading dock.

Tips for Label Removal:

• Soak bottles overnight and use plastic scrapers available in autoclave rooms 2.438, 3.348, 4.538, and 5.538.

Lab managers, please share program guidelines with your teams.

For questions, contact Nomo or email greenlabs.assistant@ubc.ca.

The LSI offers pen, toner, and battery recycling locations throughout the building.

Locations:

• "Fed Ex" table in the B2 loading dock
• 1st floor near the West Atrium and west building entrance

Hints & Tips:

• Toner cartridge recycling is for cartridges only
• Staples will recycle all kinds of pens!
• Batteries should be put in a plastic bag.

E-waste is otherwise known as electronic waste, includes items like old, broken or obsolete: cell phones, computer towers and monitors, keyboards and computer mice, scanners and printers, electronic scientific equipment, and more.

Locations:

• In front of the Styrofoam recycling cage in the B2 loading dock

Hints & Tips:

• This is for electronic waste only - no garbage!