From waste to resource: The untapped value of the separate collection of single-use laboratory plastics to enable recycling

ChemRxiv 2026 Preprint Open access

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Authors: Bianca R. Schell, Ann-Katrin Emmerich, Arooba Nazneen, Marc Widenmeyer, Anke Weidenkaff, Nico Bruns
DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv.15000676/v1
Cited by: 3

Abstract

In the face of the sustainability crisis, scientific laboratories, as resource-intensive units, must conduct research more sustainably.They are estimated to produce 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste per year.Clearly, there is a need for more circularity: Reduce-and-reuse frameworks for laboratory plastics exist to a small extent, but none for the recycling of disposed single-use articles.Biologically contaminated plastics from life science labs are disinfected by autoclaving after use, transforming them into conven-

Fields of Study & Subjects

Microplastics and Plastic Pollution Recycling and Waste Management Techniques Healthcare and Environmental Waste Management

Publication details

Journal / source
ChemRxiv
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Publication date
6 March 2026
Document type
Preprint