Glassware Disposal
Glassware to Recycle
- Glassware used with non high-risk chemicals can often be cleaned and recycled.
- Glassware used with biological hazards may be recycled after it has been autoclaved and cleaned.
Chemically contaminated glassware
- Empty remaining chemicals into a properly labeled waste container.
- Clean your glassware using warm water, soap and an appropriate cleaning brush. Remove all labels.
- Collect water from the first rinse and dispose of via CHEMATIX.
Biologically contaminated glassware
- Autoclave the glassware using cycle parameters that are appropriate for the biological agent involved.
- After the glassware has returned to ambient temperature, empty autoclaved biological material into the appropriate waste receptacle.
- Clean your glassware using warm water, soap and an appropriate cleaning brush. Remove all labels.
Once you have cleaned your glassware
- Collect it in an impervious container for transport.
- Transport it to an appropriate recycling bin (typically the yellow bins on campus).
- Do NOT put glassware in blue bins.
Glassware to Dispose
- Glassware that has been used with radiological hazards cannot be recycled. It must be disposed of in accordance with regulations and best practices.
- Glassware used with high-risk chemicals must be disposed of in accordance with regulations and best practices.
- Glassware that cannot be cleaned because it:
- is stained.
- cannot be effectively cleaned with a brush.
- is broken.
Collect hazardous glassware in an impervious container and dispose of it as hazardous waste via CHEMATIX. Glassware that hasn't been cleaned must never go in a recycling bin as it will contaminate the other contents of the bin.