General information
Contact the Recycling Coordinator at 301-496-7990. 

Collection Containers

All recycling containers will be identified by the blue and green NIH recycling logo and with information as to the specific material which can be recycled in the container.  Call 301-402-6349 to request additional containers. 

Please rinse food/beverage containers and related items before placing in recycling containers. 

Material contaminated with food products, infectious material, hazardous chemicals, or radioactive materials or empty containers previously containing infectious material, hazardous chemicals, or radioactive materials.

 For recycling specifics and to request recycling bins at satellite facilities, please contact
your facility manager.

Materials Recycled at NIH and Method of Collection

• White paper (any color ink), colored paper, newspaper, shredded paper, magazines, envelopes, manila folders, post-it-notes, books, telephone books, Kraft paper, binders, paper towel boxes, paperboard, and all other clean, dry paper.


• Place in Mixed Paper containers.  Large interior metal and cardboard containers, and exterior stone containers emptied by recycling contractor.  Paper collected in small cardboard desktop containers or blue desk-side bins should be emptied into larger containers for collection.  Disposal in general trash is illegal in Montgomery County, MD.

• Aluminum and tin cans, glass (non-Pyrex) and plastic containers, plastic bags, plastic silverware, buffer and saline bottles, and aluminum foil.  All plastic resin codes are accepted, including clear polystyrene products (#6), such as water cups.  Styrofoam is not accepted. 

• Interior metal containers and exterior stone containers are emptied by recycling contractor. Commingled materials collected in blue desk-side bins should be emptied into larger containers for collection.  Disposal in general trash is illegal in Montgomery County, MD. 

• Flattened corrugated cardboard and large paperboard boxes (frozen meal boxes) free of trash and packing materials. 

• Leave in corridor near recycling bins. Collected by Custodial Staff and placed in storage racks or cardboard compactors on loading dock.  Disposal in general trash is illegal in Montgomery County, MD. 

• Computers, monitors, laptop computers, keyboards, hard drives, memory cards, power cords. 

• These items are consider government property and must be transferred to the Division of Personal Property Services (DPPS). Please call 301-402-6279 for collection.  DPPS processes items for recycling, donation, or reuse. 

• Polypropylene pipette tip racks (#5) 

• Place in interior metal containers labeled pipette tip racks.  Emptied by recycling contractor. 

• Used DuPont™ Tyvek® suits, aprons, sleeves, boot covers, and lab coats.  Do not include suits deemed hazardous in accordance with DOT or EPA. 

• Place in large clear plastics bag on loading dock.  Collected by recycling contractor. 

• Laser jet, ink jet, and copier cartridges.  NIH Charities receive $1 for each recycled cartridge. 

• Place in interior metal containers labeled toner cartridges.  If at a leased facility, please check with facility manager to see if your building participates in the toner collection program.  If so, place in large green toter bin located on loading dock. 

• All types of batteries: Lead-acid, alkaline, lithium batteries, and rechargeable. 

• Collected by chemical waste contractor. Call 301-496-4710 for collection. 

• Straight tubes, U-shaped tubes, and compact fluorescent bulbs. 

• Removed by Maintenance Contractor or can be collected by chemical waste contractor if needed. 

• Any type of scrap metal:  iron, steel, copper, brass.  Items that contain metal, such as Ethernet cables, power cords, metal furniture, cabinets, ductwork and shelving, motors, and centrifuges. 

• Place in large open-top dumpsters at Bldg 10 B2 Dock, behind Bldg 11, Bldg 25 Scrap yard, or Bldg 13 Dock.  Collected at other loading docks upon request. Disposal in general trash is illegal in Montgomery County, MD. 

• Discarded wooden pallets, regardless of condition. 

• Collected by recycling contractor from loading docks daily. 

• X-ray and transparency films. Polyester is recovered for reuse. 

• Collected by chemical waste contractor. Call 301-496-4710 for collection. 

• Grass clippings, leaves, and tree and bush limbs. 

• Collected and recycled by NIH Grounds Maintenance Department. Disposal in general trash is illegal in Montgomery County.