Green Labs Program
UBC Okanagan’s Green Labs Program offers information and resources to help laboratories and departments reduce waste, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
By promoting sustainable research practices and encouraging more efficient use of materials and resources, the program supports a culture of environmental stewardship across campus research spaces.
Recycling
Whether you’re looking to divert lab plastics, pipette tip boxes or personal protective equipment from the landfill, these recycling programs offer practical solutions to help reduce waste and support a circular economy.
These programs are designed to make it easier for labs at UBC Okanagan to recycle more, waste less and contribute to a more sustainable campus.
UBC Okanagan uses thousands of single-use personal protective equipment (PPE) items each year. Help reduce landfill waste by participating in our PPE equipment recycling and diversion efforts.
For more information on the PPE recycling program and how you can participate, explore Personal Protective Equipment Recycling.
UBC Okanagan offers lab recycling programs for pipette tips, tubes and boxes to help divert plastic waste through Polycarbin and TerraCycle.
For more information on the pipette recycling programs and how to participate, explore Pipette Tip and Box Recycling.
Energy reduction
From reducing fume hood energy use to improving lab workflows and sustainable purchasing, the Green Labs Waste Reduction Programs help you operate more efficiently while lowering your environmental impact.
These resources empower lab users at UBC Okanagan to adopt best practices that support long-term sustainability in research environments.
Fume hoods are significant energy users at UBC Okanagan. Help reduce emissions and conserve energy by closing the sash when the fume hood is not in use.
For more information about the program and how to participate in the next challenge, explore Shut the Sash.
Other lab consumable programs
UBC Okanagan offers programs for the safe disposal of batteries, glass, and materials that are biohazardous or chemically contaminated. These items are classified as hazardous waste and are managed by Health, Safety and Environment in accordance with local, regional, and federal regulations.
Detailed hazardous waste disposal guides and procedures are available that support individual waste generators and the university in meeting compliance requirements and following best practices.