It's time for a cleanout of your laboratory's cold storage units! 

• Your lab is participating in the International Freezer Challenge
• It's been over six months since your last cleanout
• Someone in your lab is leaving (and taking lots of institutional knowledge with them!)
• Your freezers are being replaced (check out ENERGY STAR to find energy-efficient models)
• Your freezers are so dirty and disorganized that you can't find what you need in them

Whatever the reason is, this guide will help you sort through your samples, identify things that can be disposed of, and help you dispose of them safely. If you have questions or concerns, you can always contact the Green Labs Specialist (greenlabs@virginia.edu).

Did you know? One ultra-low temperature freezer can use as much energy in a day as an average American households! Cleaning out your units reduces the demand for new units and the environmental impact of labs at UVA.