Waste Management
Drive sustainability at Disposal
Lab plastic waste poses a significant threat to our planet with 5.5 million tons generated annually–a figure expected to grow by 20% over the next 6 years. Most of this plastic waste is either incinerated or sent to landfills creating more than 3 million tons of GHG emissions, leaving room for drastic improvement. To tackle this challenge, it is imperative to mobilize efforts towards innovative solutions, such as enhancing recycling facilities and urging policy makers to incentivize sustainable disposal solutions.
Barriers to Sourcing Greener Raw Materials
Objective: To qualify the challenges associated with sourcing sustainable raw materials and with design optimization for recyclability.
Impact:
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Provide an overview of current design challenges
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Identify sustainable raw materials for pilot programs
Project Proposal
Challenges to Recycling Lab Plastics
Objective: To provide an overview of the current challenges to recycling lab plastics.
Impact:
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Qualify the challenges associated with recycling lab plastics.
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Establish industry standards for lab plastic waste management.
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Pinpoint product materials that are more easily recyclable, and communicate these findings with manufacturers.
How you can help:
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Sign up for an interview: share key challenges, best practices, and opportunities.
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Join as an advisor: take an active role in guiding the project.
Recent Advances
Labcycle
Offers bespoke recycling services to sort, decontaminate, and recycle lab plastics.
US Recycling System
Current challenges facing the US Recycling system (via the EPA).
Life Cycle Assessment of Lab Consumables
First literature to quantify the carbon foot print of common , single-use lab consumables
Healthcare Plastics Advanced Recycling Project
Explores the suitability of mixed stream healthcare plastics as a feedstock for different advanced recycling technologies.
Project Proposal
Barriers to Sourcing Greener Raw Materials
Objective: To qualify the challenges associated with sourcing sustainable raw materials and with design optimization for recyclability.
Impact:
-
Provide an overview of current design challenges
-
Identify sustainable raw materials for pilot programs