Universities Share Tips for Reuse Programs for Lab Supplies and Equipment

I2SL’s Circular Economy for Labs Community of Practice (CoP) recently hosted a virtual forum with university green labs professionals describing how they have overcome challenges to establish programs for reusing equipment, chemicals, and supplies. Get ideas from the University of Texas (UT) Austin, University of Colorado (CU) Boulder, University of Michigan, Caltech, and University of South Florida (USF) for finding inventory space, engaging researchers, and establishing long-term lab reuse programs.

Many labs are looking for effective ways to reuse chemicals, especially when only a small quantity is needed. UT Austion Green Labs Coordinator Lindsey Yazbek shared how researchers can donate usable chemicals for reuse in other campus labs. Due to space and safety limitations, not all chemicals can be accepted into the program, so the sustainability team provides a flowchart to assist researchers during the donation process. UT Austin also introduced a glassware reuse program. Using Google sheets, lab staff members catalog available glassware; researchers can submit requests for used glassware via a Google form, and health and safety department staff deliver the glassware to the requesting lab. A similar online platform where labs can exchange equipment has saved the university about $17,000.

CU Boulder has developed an online platform with a search feature that lets researchers request a chemical directly from its current owner. Green Team Lead Amrita George explained that the ability for researchers to communicate with the chemical’s original purchaser was critical to their program’s success, as it allows them to verify proper handling and storage. CU Boulder built additional program credibility by leveraging the same platform their labs were already using for tracking inventory. Amrita cited close collaboration with the university’s environmental health and safety department as being key to the program’s success.

The University of Michigan opened a Lab Swap Shop in 2024. Sustainable Labs Coordinator Alex Galens reported that shop has already saved researchers over $800,000, diverted 11,000 pounds from landfills, and driven 500,000 visits to their sustainability office. In addition to serving as a location to drop off materials for reuse, the office serves as a gathering place where students and others can participate in crafting projects that repurpose used items and learn about other opportunities to reduce waste.

Caltech Green Labs Coordinator Tasha Cammidge shared how the university launched a “Lab Clean Up” contest in 2025, where participants submitted before-and-after pictures of labs and prizes for the most unusual items found. The Caltech team used a Google Form help redistribute the discarded equipment. Since March, the program has received more than 100 entries and saved over $35,000 in lab supply purchases, and the university plans to open a store for reused items and have a retired university employee repair damaged equipment rather than buying new items.

USF Sarasota-Manatee Teaching Lab Manager Victoria Ramirez is also focused on lab equipment repair, or as she calls it, “The Fifth R.” To repair unfamiliar equipment, Victoria recommended green labs professionals reach out to the researcher who used it or another experienced staff member. She also encouraged them to invest in some basic tools to fix lab equipment. To learn more about campus reuse programs, watch a recording of the forum or stay tuned for the next CoP Forum on lab reuse events in early 2026.

Photo: UT Austin glassware reuse program.