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Chemical bottle re-use and recycling PDF Print E-mail

Fisher Scientific operates a collection and recycling service for used Fisher Chemical 2.5L glass (Winchesters) and plastic coated glass bottles from our customers.

Click here for details of collection service.

  • The company currently collects 10,000 Fisher Chemical bottles per week from customers.
  • 53% of these returns were reused in 2007, the rest recycled as cullet.
  • Bottles are washed, visually checked and QC tested.
  • Plastic bottles are recycled by a reprocessing company for use as underground pipes.
  • Water used in the bottlewash was optimised in 2003 - consumption has been reduced by the equivalent of approximately 35 bathfuls of water per hour.


Quick Links:

Please remember that this service is only available for Fisher Chemical packaging

How the system works...

Bottles enter the washing plant and are stored on pallets.
 
Bottles are then rinsed in hot water rinse, followed by a hot detergent wash and a rinse in pure water.

They are then air dried.

Final rinse water is recirculated for use in pre-rinse.
 
When a bottle is cleaned and washed, bottles are coded with a UV fluorescent ink.

Bottles are visually checked to ensure there is a maximum of 3 ink marks.
If inspector sees 3 crosses, bottles are then sent for recycling as cullet.
 
Bottles are held in quarantine until QC testing is performed.
 
Clean bottles are then batch-checked in our QC Department to ensure that there are no contaminants before they are used again.
 
If bottles are unsuitable for reuse for whatever reason, they are broken down and supplied to glass manufacturers for recycling.

 

 



The Packing Team Leader

 

The Packing Team Leader / Safety Advisor for Fisher Scientific comments:


There are a number of guidelines which you need to adhere to with regard to ruturning packaging to us - very briefly...

 

  • We would ask that you do not leave sodium wire in the bottles as it is very difficult to see in amber bottles.
  • Also can you please ensure all bottles are empty and fully drained.
  • After use, please cross through the label but do not obliterate all the information on the labels.

 

Finally, please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to come and look at our operation, just contact your Account Manager who will be able to organise a visit.

 

Customer Packaging Returns Information

 

What steps do I have to take before I return packaging?

  • You need to ensure that all bottles/packaging do not contain hazardous product.
  • Please remember that our staff do not expect product or wastes to be present. All drivers are provided with protective clothing and the relevant training, but the presence of unanticipated waste poses a very significant risk to them.
  • PLEASE DO NOT leave sodium wire in bottles, this is difficult to see in an amber bottle and can be very hazardous to personnel handling returns.
  • We would ask that customers try to avoid putting your own labels directly on to the bottle. Our labels have special glue that is designed to wash off in the bottlewash cycle; customers’ labels cannot be washed off preventing re-use and necessitating the scrapping of the bottle. This accounts for 80% of the scrap bottles disposed of by Fisher Scientific.
  • Please ensure there are no broken glass bottles as these pose a risk of injury to our staff.
  • All glass must be securely packaged, ideally in a Fisher Scientific box with the pulp components, or in a suitable cage such as those provided by Fisher Scientific.
  • Unless being used with the pulp inner to return empty Fisher Scientific bottles, any empty cardboard boxes should be flattened to reduce the amount of space required and should not be contaminated with chemicals, as this would also constitute special waste.
  • Please do not return loose-form bottle packaging.

How do you notify Fisher Scientific that you have packaging to return?

There are two ways you can request packaging to be returned to Fisher Scientific, subject to the capacity of the vehicle loading:

 

  1. Tell the driver, when he arrives with a delivery. He will then fit it within the load or arrange to pick it up at a mutually convenient date; or

  2. Contact customer services and advise them, they can then arrange for collection within the delivery schedule.

What documentation is involved

Click here for full details of Customer Packaging Returns Information [PDF - 164KB]
Last Updated on Monday, 09 May 2011 10:22