Recycling

Minimizing Our Environmental Impact

Omega Bio-tek is committed to minimizing environmental impact while advancing life science innovation. We’re constantly exploring ways to be more sustainable; from the way we design our products to how we package and ship them. Here’s a glimpse into our efforts:

Eco Friendly Packaging – You’ll often find our kits in recyclable cardboard boxes. We also strive to use recyclable materials and minimize our use of virgin plastic, where practical.
Waste Reduction – We’re focused on designing products and packaging that help reduce lab waste while ensuring safe and secure storage options.
Sustainable shipping (greener practices) – We offer our customers a variety of shipping options and carefully choose packaging to minimize shipping costs and to reduce our carbon footprint during transit.
A Continuous journey with Ongoing Improvements – We are dedicated to continually evaluating and improving our sustainability efforts as part of our core values.

Making Recycling Easier for You

We want to make it as straightforward as possible for you to recycle the materials that come with your Omega Bio-tek products. You may encounter the following recyclable materials

Material	Symbol
High density polyethylene (HDPE)
Polypropylene (PP)
Corrugated fiberboard (PAP)
Non-corrugated fiberboard (PAP)
Borosilicate glass (GL)

Recycling & Disposal Guidance

Bottles with Caps On
Many recycling programs now accept bottles with caps left on. Modern facilities shred and separate plastics efficiently.
Check Local Rules: Not all centers accept this, so always confirm with your local recycling authority.

Biohazard-Contaminated Components
If bottles or kit component parts come in contact with blood, tissue, or other bodily fluids or would otherwise be considered biohazardous as a result of their laboratory use, please process in accordance with your facility or local regulations for biohazardous product which may generally include:

Not placing in common trash or recycling bins.
Using leak-proof, puncture-resistant containers with biohazard labeling.
Disposing through licensed medical waste services (e.g., autoclaving, incineration) per local, state, and federal rules.

Chemically-Contaminated Components
Bottles containing hazardous materials/reagents (e.g., guanidine salts, alcohols) should be processed in accordance with local regulations on hazardous material disposal which generally include:

Do not pour leftover chemicals down the drain or place into recycling.
Only recycle bottles that meet the official “empty container” definition.
Otherwise, use approved hazardous waste disposal services.

“Empty” Bottles – Important Note
The U.S. EPA defines when a container is “RCRA-empty” under 40 CFR §261.7.
If RCRA-empty: Bottles may generally go to recycling or solid waste streams, subject to local rules.
If not: They must be managed as hazardous waste.
Always follow your facility’s procedures and check with local environmental authorities. For more details, see the EPA RCRA Orientation Manual (2022).

Friendly Reminder

For safe and environmentally responsible disposal, always follow your facility’s procedures and consult local environmental regulations. Rules can vary by region, so check with your municipality or national waste authority for the most accurate guidance.

Components	Name	Description
Bottles	High density Polyethylene (plastic)	OBT Bottles are made of strong, durable plastic. To recycle it, ensure products are clean and sorted.
Bottle Caps Columns Tubes	Polypropylene (Plastic)	Bottles caps, columns and tubes are made of Polypropylene which is a plastic known for its strength and heat resistance, identified by the number ‘5’. Ensure products are clean and sorted.
Plates Reservoirs	Polypropylene (Plastic)	Plates and reservoirs are made of Polypropylene, identified by the number ‘5’.
Syringes	Polypropylene (Plastic)	The syringe body is polypropylene. The built-in filter is a multi-material component and not recyclable through standard municipal streams. Often, these will be associated with biological fluid/tissue evaluation and considered biohazardous. Local regulations may require these items to be managed as laboratory waste. Follow the disposal practices established by your facility and local guidelines and regulations.
Box	Corrugated fiberboard	OBT Boxes are made of strong, multilayered packaging material composed of a wavy (fluted) inner layer sandwiched between one or more flat outer sheets, identified by the number ‘20’. To recycle it, empty and flatten the box keeping it clean and dry. These may include kit shipping boxes and Box Inserts).
Box	Non-Corrugated fiberboard	Some OBT Boxes are made of a single, thick layer of paper-pulp material identified by number ‘21’. It is easily recyclable through most curbside programs and can be reused or composted if soiled. These include kit boxes and box inserts.
Glass Vial	Borosilicate glass	Borosilicate glass is commonly used for laboratory vials and harsh chemical samples due to its superior thermal and chemical resistance. Important: This material is not compatible with standard glass recycling streams because its high melting point can compromise recycled glass quality.
MagBinder Fit²⁴	Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment	MagBinder Fit24 should not be discarded as unsorted waste, but in most regions can be sent to separate collection facilities for recovery and recycling. Please contact info@omegabiotek.com for guidance on disposal of the electronic equipment.