Where can I Dispose of/Recycle Unwanted or Used...
Batteries
Alkaline batteries are currently thrown away. All other batteries can be disposed of through Chemical and Radiation Safety: Phone 559-6356
Computers/Monitors/Scanners/Printers and Other Electronics
All usable equipment is sold to people that need it. If there is no need, hard drives are destroyed and the equipment is recycled. Contact UNMC General Supply: Phone: 559-5899
Chemicals
Need MSDS information? For proper disposal contact Chemical and Radiation Safety: Phone 559-6356
Aerosol Cans
All aerosol cans are punctured and recycled. Contact Chemical and Radiation Safety: Phone 559-6356
Mercury-Containing Lamps
Usually in microscopes or lighted equipment. Contact Chemical and Radiation Safety: Phone 559-6356
Refrigerators and Freezers
Facilities Management & Planning will need to remove the Freon first; contact them at 559-4050. Did you know they can reuse it in other places on campus instead of just disposing of it? Contact General Supply to have the fridge or freezer surplused: Phone 559-5899
Useable Laboratory Equipment/Supplies
Check out the UNMC Classifieds and Tips/Research Support Systems, where you can buy, sell, or trade any safe and usable equipment or supply. Login in using your Lotus Notes ID.
Useable Office Equipment/ Supplies
Check out the UNMC Classifieds and Tips/Research Support Systems, where you can buy, sell, or trade any safe and usable equipment or supply. Login in using your Lotus Notes ID.
Furniture
All usable furniture is sold to people that need it. Contact UNMC General Supply: Phone 559-5899
Paper
Place paper in marked blue bins. Cardboard is broken down, but not placed in the bin.
Journals/Magazines/Books
Individual items can be recycled in the blue paper bins. If you have numerous items please contact EVS and they will supply you with a larger bin: Phone 559-4073. Books can also be recycled through the UNMC Bookstore.
Plastic (#’s 1-6) and Aluminum
Can be combined in marked bins (NOT paper bins). Please do not include plastic bags, plastic wrap (saran or bubble, etc.) or styrofoam. Please rinse items that contained food or drink (to reduce odor) and remove bottle top lids prior to recycling.
Defunct Writing Instruments
TerraCycle Writing Instrument Recycling Program
In partnership with TerraCycle and Sanford (a Newell Rubbermaid company), UNMC LiveGreen is offering a special recycling program for defunct writing instruments. As part of the program, departments can request a TerraCycle box (shown below) that can be used to collect old, non-functioning writing instruments, such as pens, dry-erase markers, and sharpies. To request a TerraCycle box, a department employee should email energy@nebraskamed.com.
Once the collection boxes are full, the department should email energy@nebraskamed.com again and request a pre-paid UPS shipping label. Once this request is submitted, a PDF file of the pre-paid UPS shipping label will be emailed to the department representative who made the request. The department should then adhere the pre-paid label to one of their own large envelopes or boxes (NOT the actual TerraCycle box) and mail the writing instruments to TerraCycle.
For each defunct writing instrument that is sent to TerraCycle, UNMC LiveGreen will receive 2 cents, which will be used to help fund other energy and resource conservation efforts on campus.
For more information about the program, please reference the questions and answers noted below.
What types of writing instruments can be placed in the TerraCycle box?
All brands and types of defunct writing instruments can be placed in the TerraCycle box. For example, markers, highlighters, dry-erase markers, pens, traditional #2 wood pencils, mechanical pencils, erasers, and colored pencils can all be placed in the box. The only writing-related item that CANNOT be placed in the box is correction fluid (e.g., Wite-Out).
Once the box is full, what should the department do?
When a box is full of defunct writing instruments, the department representative should email energy@nebraskamed.com to request a pre-paid UPS shipping label. A PDF file of the pre-paid UPS shipping label will be emailed to the department representative who made the request within one to two weeks. The department should then print off the pre-paid UPS label and adhere it to a large envelope or box supplied by the respective department. The department should then mail the envelope or box using the UPS shipping system. If a UPS bin is not located close to the department, a department representative will personally have to drop off the package at a UPS bin or UPS store.
Please DO NOT ship the actual TerraCycle box (this box is meant to stay in the department and reused for collection).
Where should a department place the TerraCycle box?
It is up to the department on where it would like to place the box.
Can more than one box be requested for a given department / work area?
Yes, more than one box can be requested. However, we ask that you try to limit the number of boxes requested so that a sufficient number of boxes are available for all areas of the university. In some cases, we may ask the department to first see if one (or two) boxes is sufficient to cover the department / work area and then possibly order more at a later date if the demand is there.
Can external sites (not on/near the main campus) request TerraCycle boxes?
Yes, external sites can participate and request a TerraCycle box as long as the box can be delivered to the department/site via inter-office mail.
What happens to the collected writing instruments once they are sent to TerraCycle?
TerraCycle will recycle the items and turn them into other fun and innovative products. Learn more at http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/writing-instruments-brigade-r.html.
Have a question about an item not on the list? Let us know and we’ll find out!
