Free recycling collection service.
Starlab will collect your clean, uncontaminated TipOne® polypropylene (PP) packaging and turn it into high-quality recyclate. The recycled material will then be used at our German production site to make new TipOne® racks.
EASY & CONVENIENT – JOIN US!
Easy. flexible recycling, with no stockpiles. Whether you use just a few racks a week or are a high‑throughput lab, you stay in control of how often collections take place. Join us and support a circular economy via a sustainable and traceable service.
What can be recycled?
All TipOne® packaging components made of polypropylene (PP):
Please ensure you return only:
IMPORTANT: Please do not return shrink wrap or tips. All autoclave tape or lab labels must be removed before recycling as they will contaminate the recycling.
Recycling from BSL-3/BSL-4 labs is not accepted.
Register for the service.
First, you must register to use the service.
- email your completed form to recycling@starlab.co.uk to gain access to the Recycling Collection Portal.
- Your log-in details will be emailed to you within a few days. Look out for an email from support-starlab@remondis-recycling.de
- Your account is now ready to use and you can start organising collections.
How do collections work?
Fill a large, sturdy box, preferably a TipOne® case box, to the max. weight of 10 kg
- Log-in to the Recycling Collection Portal and create and print one courier label for each box of recycling to be shipped.
- Take the labelled boxes to your designated collection location (as noted on the courier label).
- Your recycling will be collected within 2 to 3 working days.
How the closed-loop works
The closed-loop advantage.
All recycling helps to reduce waste, but closed-loop recycling goes further by keeping material at the same quality and reusing it to make more of the same product. It also:
- cuts demand for new raw materials
- reduces greenhouse gas emissions
- inspires sustainable product design
For a deep dive on this subject, download our paper "TipOne® and the advantages of closed-loop recycling"
Real impact in action: environmental gains and customer stories.
By the end of 2025, around 211.3 tonnes of polypropylene (PP) regrind had been produced from the TipOne® plastic returned by our customers. That's about the same weight as 35 average male African bush elephants!
Not only are our customers saving tonnes of plastic from being incinerated or downcycled, the recycling service is also saving us tonnes of CO2e.
Download our fact sheet for full details on the environental gains from the TipOne® recycling service.
"It's seamless, and works really well in our lab."
Dr Nisha Nair, Genetics Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, explains how, as a LEAF accredited lab, they implemented changes and initiatives to reduce waste and single use plastics.
“I certainly think if you're using Starlab's pipette tips people should take on the recycling scheme ... as a high volume user, it's good to know they are being recycled."
"This isn't just about recycling – it's about leading by example.
I’ve started recycling TipOne® pipette tip packaging as part of my effort to adopt more sustainable lab practices. This simple act aligns with work being done across the institution and the principles behind the LEAF framework. This isn’t just about recycling – its about leading by example. Let’s continue to encourage one another to build labs that are efficient, ethical, and environmentally conscious.”
Vic Sun, Clinical Science Lab, School of Medicine, Derby, University of Nottingham
FAQs
Q: Where can I find a copy of your Waste Transfer Notice?
A: Please see the link right at the bottom of this page.
Q: Do I have to use a specific browser for the Recycling Portal?
A: No. However, we recommend Firefox as this facilitates the use of the site better.
Q: What do I need to set-up when I have access?
A: Nothing! Once you have your log-in and can access the portal, no further set-up is required. All your details will be pre-filled on the site and you are ready to start organising collections.
Q: What are the ‘Order No’, ‘Parcel No’, ‘Date from’ and ‘Date to’ fields on the portal?
A: Your collection history will be stored on the portal and this can be exported to excel for reporting purposes. These fields can be used to search/filter your collection history by Order No., by date or by Tracking No. (Parcel No.) should you wish to do so.
Q: Where can I get help if: a) I forget my password, b) my login doesn’t work, c) I am having problems printing the label
A: Email: support-starlab@remondis-recycling.de
Q: What should I do if my contact details change (name, collection address, e-mail etc)?
A: Please contact: recycling@starlab.co.uk
Q: I can no longer access my account?
A: In line with data protection laws, accounts with no activity over any 6 month period will be inactivated. An email will be sent prior to inactivation. If you regularly use your account and are unable to access, please contact: support-starlab@replano.com
Q: What TipOne® packaging components can I return for recycling?
A: No tips. No shrink wrap. No plastics except clean, TipOne® polypropylene packaging items outlined in the "What can be recycled" section.
Q: Why can’t I send other plastics for recycling too?
A: Other manufacturers’ tips racks or any other plastic products may not be 100% PP or of the same quality, and they will contaminate the recyclate. Because we use your returned material to make new TipOne® products in a closed-loop system, the recyclate must come from a single source, ie TipOne® PP only. Your recycling will be rejected if it contains plastic other than TipOne®. Recycling collections are monitored to ensure it contains only TipOne® polypropylene; you may be asked to leave the scheme if you continually return unauthorised items.
Q: Do I need to autoclave the recycling before return?
A: We can’t give a definitive answer, as only you know what your TipOne® plastic has been exposed to. The items eligible for return don’t usually contact samples, but when you book a collection you must confirm they are “contamination-free”.
Q: Can I use boxes other than TipOne® case boxes to return recycling?
A: Only in exceptional cases. The service is designed around the TipOne® case box sizes and the maximum weights. Please use TipOne® case boxes if you can, as this makes the whole process greener as the same box is used from manufacturing to recycling. However, if you are really stuck, you can use any strong box with the approximate dimensions of 57 x 45 x 27 cm. Please do ensure that the box is strong enough for the content's weight and safe transit.
Q: Is there a limit to how many boxes I can send at once?
A: Aim to send around 2 to 4 boxes at a time. This is the most effective way to use the service, as it will ensure space on the collection van and reduce trips for individual boxes.
Q: Is there a limit to the weight of the boxes I send?
A: Yes! Maximum weight 10kg. Some TipOne® packaging components can be stacked inside each other, which means you can get more of them in the box, but this can be heavy. Please try to fill your box as much as possible, but only to the maximum weight of 10kg.
Q: How do I get a mailing label?
A: Click the Create Label button in the Recycling Collection Portal to generate a pdf, and then print.
Q: If I have multiple boxes, do I need to generate multiple labels?
A: Yes! You must create, print and attach a separate courier label to each box being shipped.
Q: Which courier company will collect the recycling?
A: DHL Express
Q: Do I need to contact DHL about the collection?
A: No. Ceating the label informs DHL that a collection is ready. You just need to affix the labels and leave the boxes at your designated collection area. Your designated collection area is printed on the courier label.
Q: Can I track the parcel shipment?
A: Yes. Just click on the Tracking icon in the Portal for the parcel you want to track.
Q: How long does it take for the recycling to be collected?
A: Usually within 2 to 3 working days of the label being created. However, once you have created label(s) please take your recycling to your collection point because depending on the courier's schedule, they could turn up sooner.
Q: Who do I contact if the box is not collected?
A: support-starlabremondis-recycling.
Q: Can you provide collection containers for the lab?
A: No. We encourage you to purchase TipOne® by the case and use the case box as your collection container. We do not supply additional receptacles because needs will vary lab to lab and no single solution will fit.
Q: What happens to my recycling?
A: The material is ground, dedusted and homogenized to make a raw material for reuse. Since January 2025, we are using your post-consumer TipOne® recyclate in the base of TipOne® racks which are made in Germany. Watch our video to see what happens to your recycling.
Q: Does shredding PP create microplastics?
A: Shredding PP can theoretically produce microplastics, as the process breaks plastic into smaller pieces. However, our recycling partner REMONDIS minimises this risk by optimiSing the shredding process, using the right tools, maintaining equipment, and using filtration systems to capture and remove small particles before they can enter the environment.
Q: What’s the difference between Post-Consumer Recyclate (PCR) and Post-Production Recyclate (PPR), which is also known as Post-Industrial Recyclate (PIR)?
A: PCR focuses on recycling materials after consumer use. PPR/PIR deals with recycling materials during the production process (eg. production waste from overruns) before it reaches consumers.
Q: Why is recycled plastic from a different source used for the transparent refill components?
A: The recycled (PCR) plastic we collect is a mix of coloured (blue rack base, yellow, red, blue, green tip wafers) and transparent PP (refill packaging, rack lid etc). This isn’t suitable for making clear parts: transparent components require recyclate made only from transparent PP.
Q: Do you provide information on the environmental savings of the recycling service?
A: Yes. Download our data sheet.
Q: Can you provide me with information/certificates for how much I have recycled?
A: Yes. Please contact your Account Manager.
"The consistent use of high-quality polypropylene (PP) in our TipOne®
system enables direct and efficient processing into high-quality PP material that is as good as new. Since the beginning of 2025, recycled material from the labs is being used in the manufacture of TipOne® racks in Germany. Register now, and actively support our mission to close the material loop."
Dr. Lennart Walter,
Product Lifecycle Manager, Starlab
