Recycling programmes
KIMTECH nitrile glove recycling programme
Laboratory gloves are often made with polypropylene which is a recyclable material. Driven by the UCD Green Labs group, a trial glove recycling programme is currently underway in conjunction with Terracycle and Ansell. The initial programme was rolled out by Kimberly-Clark, who recycled their own brand of Kimtech nitrile gloves under their RightCycle™️programme. Labs at UCD including the BioOrbic lab and practical lab 103 in the School of Veterinary Medicine now have special, segregated bins for collecting the gloves.
What does the recycling pipeline look like?
Individual groups collect nitrile gloves and, if necessary, autoclave them to eliminate potential contaminants. The gloves are pooled into a one tonne garden waste bag and then picked up by courier and delivered to the MRF (material recovery facility) run by Terracycle in Limerick. Terracycle will then transport the bag to a recycling facility for materials recovery. A video of the process can be seen (opens in a new window)here.
Detailed information on the RightCycle nitrile glove programme can be found (opens in a new window)here.
You can order Kimtech gloves through Fisher eProcurement at a cost of €20 for a box of 200. Other types of gloves are available. As part of the RightCycle™️ programme the customer pays for courier collection and transport to Terracycle MRF. Ansell currently pays for processing.
- #17397659 - X200 Kimtech Opal Nitrile Gloves, L, 24cm, Ambidex
- #17377659 - X200 Kimtech Opal Nitrile Gloves, S, 24cm, Ambidex
- #17387659 - X200 Kimtech Opal Nitrile Gloves, M, 24cm, Ambidex
- #17307669 - X170 Kimtech Opal Nitrile Gloves, XL, 24cm, Ambidex
The good news for UCD laboratories is that the UCD SRI received a small grant from the UCD Sustainability unit and can cover the cost of the courier transport for the next 2-3 pick ups. We have already collected 4 bags at approximately 200 kg/bag, thus reducing the amount of glove waste going into the hazardous waste stream by 800 kg.
Get in touch with us at (opens in a new window)greenlabs@ucd.ie to find out more.
Updated July 2025
Polystyrene recycling programme
There are three pick up points on campus:
- O’Brien Science Centre (contact Carlotta Sacchi)
- Conway Institute (contact Eimear Ryan)
- School of Veterinary Medicine (contact Tara Fitzsimons)
- NVRL
Request your own by logging a job with (opens in a new window)estates@ucd.ie*
“One polystyrene recycling white 1t bag from the old canoe shed to be delivered to _________”
*Please note there may be limited availability
Pipette tip box recycling programme
Through the supplier Cruinn, it is now possible to recycle used, clean plastic pipette tip boxes under Cruinn's take back programme. Used tip boxes can be placed in a clear or semi transparent blue bag with a Cruinn sticker placed on it for collection.
Both Cruinn and Sarstedt ship these pipette tip boxes to IFF Plastics Ltd in Co. Clare where they are mixed together, washed, dried, chipped and melted for re-moulding into items such as posts. Through this polypropylene and LDPE plastic recycling initiative, IFF Plastics Ltd report an offset of approximately 750 tonnes of carbon annually.
Bags for pipette tip box collection are left near the Vet Buyer’s office beside the lift. These must be labelled with a Cruinn sticker (check with your local Technical Officer for labels).
Waste Action Reuse Portal (WARP-It)
WARPit is a web based, furniture reuse platform, and is part of a Green Campus initiative managed by UCD Estate Services to reduce our carbon footprint by diverting furniture from landfill and reduce the costs to the University of storage and purchase of new furniture.
WARPit matches surplus resources wit staff and students; reducing disposal costs, carbon emissions and waste to landfill.
Read more about it(opens in a new window)here.
Register(opens in a new window)here.