Packaging from laboratories

Packaging in the laboratory can be outer packaging for laboratory material (e.g. cardboard box with bottles) or plastic packaging, glass packaging, metal packaging or steel containers containing chemicals. Outer packaging that has never been in direct contact with chemicals is sorted in the same way as packaging from office work. If the outer packaging is labeled with pictogram you should erase it or take the label off to state that the box is not contaminated with anything hazardous.

Empty container which has contained chemicals can be sorted as packaging and left for recycling if they are cleaned and with the content information erased (by deleting the text or take the label off). If not, they should be left as chemical waste. Spray flasks/aerosols should always be sorted as chemical waste.

The exception is packaging labeled with:

• Dead fish and tree
• Skull and crossbone
• Health hazard
• Corrosive

Emptied packaging with any of these labels is left as chemical waste. They should not be cleaned and should be properly closed with the original lid.

Kemikalieavfall

Emptied packaging containing radioactive substance is always left as radioactive waste.

All packaging which has contained chemicals, even those that are not labeled as above, can be left as chemical waste, but then the cost will be considerably higher than if they are left cleaned for recycling.