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Sustainability Committee

Sustainability Committee

Sustainability in the Department of Chemistry

The department of chemistry at UNC Chapel Hill is committed to creating a world that provides a viable future. Our mission is to create a model for a sustainable chemistry department through the recommendation of sustainable laboratory practices and infrastructure, the involvement of all department personnel, and fostering a community where sustainability is considered in all aspects of operations.

Program Highlights

Mask Recycling
Disposable masks

  • 3-ply surgical masks
  • Blue, disposable masks from UNC
  • Dust masks
  • KN95 and N95 masks

Masks ONLY: no other PPE or cloth masks
Locations

  • 4th floor Kenan: right off elevator
  • 2nd floor Caudill: Caudill 216 (break room)
  • 3rd floor Genome Sciences: break area overlooking Bell Tower Dr.
Plastic Packaging Recycling instructionsPlastic Film Recycling
Any type of thin plastic

  • Bubble wrap
  • Packaging pillows
  • Grocery bags
  • Ziploc bags

Requirements

  • Must be clean
  • No labels or tape
  • Cannot be wet or covered with any sort of chemical

Locations

  • 4th floor Kenan- right off elevator
  • 2nd floor Caudill- Caudill 216 (break room)
  • 1st floor Venable
Gloves Recycling
Nitrile, latex, and neoprene gloves

  • If soiled with chemicals, gloves go in solid waste
  • No autoclaved gloves
  • Glove recycling boxes picked up at VWR stockroom
    • Full boxes can also be emptied in the stockroom

Cans/Bottles/Plastics & Paper Recycling
For information about these UNC recycling programs, click here.
Batteries Recycling
For information about hazardous waste recycling programs, click here.
Submit for pickup

Request recycling bins for a lab

Click here to submit a recycling request

  • Fill out the applicable information for your lab and select other.
  • In “comments and special instructions”, write “requesting permanent bins for lab space (building and room number), we will put them in the hall for weekly scheduled pick up service”
  • They will bring both paper and bottles/cans recycling bins by default, so if you only want one or the other, include that information as well.

The bins need to be put out in the hallways weekly for pick up so the staff don’t have to go into the lab, especially if it might be locked.
Caudill and Kenan both have recycling picked up on Thursday.
You can find the complete pick up schedule here.

Efficient Freezer Rebate Program

Can be used to receive emergency funding to buy a more efficient -80°C freezer. Click here for more information.

Sustainability Committee Members

Christopher Diamond-Hettinger

Christopher Diamond-Hettinger

Graduate Student

Email

Hanne Henriksen

Hanne Henriksen

Graduate Student

Email

Lauren McRae

Lauren McRae

Graduate Student

Email

Caroline Mohler

Caroline Mohler

Graduate Student

Email

Tyler Motley, Ph.D.

Tyler Motley, Ph.D.

Email

Sarah Nagy

Sarah Nagy

Graduate Student

Email

Eliza Neidhart

Eliza Neidhart

Graduate Student

Email

Kyle Nguyen

Kyle Nguyen

Graduate Student

Email

Emily Sherman

Emily Sherman

Graduate Student

Email

Jason Surratt

Jason Surratt

Professor, Jointly Appointed with Gillings School of Global Public Health

Email

Contact Us

For questions/inquiries, please send details via our survey here or contact our co-chairs, Tyler Motley and Lauren McRae.
Are you interested in becoming a member of the sustainability committee? Please contact one of our members, or your sustainability officer, for more information.

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