Green Labs at BU
Want to stay up to date on Green Labs at BU? Click here to be added to our mailing list to learn more!
The goal of the Green Labs Initiative is to reduce BU’s costs, waste, and emissions around laboratory research practices. This program focuses on several common practices in the laboratory setting, sharing information through Sustainability Labs Champions, workshops, EHS inspections, and other means. The Initiative is a partnership between BU Sustainability, CAMED RISC committee, EHS, Procure2Pay, and Risk Management.
The various programs below will support your journey toward greener laboratory practices. Join your colleagues to reduce energy and waste.
ULT Freezer Replacement Incentive Program
Upgrading to a new ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezer enhances the protection of valuable, often irreplaceable research samples, reduces the University’s energy consumption, and ensures optimal insurance coverage for the research community. The University and BU Sustainability are offering funding to help offset the cost of new energy-efficient freezer units. Interested laboratories are encouraged to apply promptly. Funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
This program is a collaborative effort on behalf of Procure to Pay, Sustainability, Environmental Health & Safety, and Risk Management, with funding from the Medical Campus deans, the Office of Research, and BU Sustainability. Apply now — the program ends June 30, 2026.
Freezer Maintenance Program (EHS)
Proper use and maintenance of a ULT freezer helps ensure it functions reliably. Boston University through EHS established a preventative maintenance program to help prevent freezer failures and to protect the valuable research materials.
Each freezer in the SciSure (formerly SciShield) equipment inventory will have preventative maintenance performed twice each year. It is important to update the inventory and notify the ULT Freezer Coordinator whenever a new freezer is added to a laboratory or when it is moved to a new location. The preventative maintenance will be performed by a qualified external contractor certified for this work.
Styrofoam Cooler Recycling at BUMC
Styrofoam coolers collected across the BU Medical Campus are consolidated in designated bins located in the recycling room at the 15 Stoughton St. loading dock. All tape and labels must be removed before collection.
What happens to the coolers?
Lab Plastics Recycling at BUMC
Boston University has been collecting lab plastics for recycling since 2023. We work with an external vendor to collect specific materials that are separated by type. These include CLEAN and EMPTY pipette tip boxes (#5 PP), conical tube racks (#5 PP), and media bottles (#1 PET).
What’s Accepted
Only three items are recyclable in the Lab Plastics stream. Other items can contaminate the bin and make the entire collection unrecyclable.
|
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
|
|
Before You Recycle
- Do not recycle anything that has come into contact with biohazardous materials
- Media bottles must be triple rinsed
- Separate materials into #5 PP and #1 PET streams – follow signs in the collection areas
Drop-Off Locations
- Recycling room inside the Stoughton Street loading dock
- K Building, first floor
Participate
All labs are encouraged to fill out our survey to help us manage the program going forward.
Lab plastics recycling is currently only available at BUMC. If you are located at CRC and are interested in participating, please fill out the survey — if there is sufficient interest, we will explore expanding the program to your location.
