ChemCycle
SDSU Chemical Redistribution Program
ChemCycle is the SDSU’s centralized chemical redistribution program, administered by Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S). The program enables laboratories and academic units to donate surplus chemicals in a manner that prioritizes safety, regulatory compliance, cost efficiency, and environmental stewardship.
By partnering with academic departments, surplus chemicals—such as solvents that may no longer be suitable for research—can be repurposed for instructional laboratory courses, where ultra-high purity is not always required. This collaborative approach reduces waste while maximizing the value of existing chemical resources.
Purpose
Chemical waste is a common challenge in laboratory environments—but it can be addressed collaboratively. ChemCycle connects departments so that usable surplus chemicals do not go to waste, instead supporting teaching and research across campus.
The purpose of ChemCycle is to:
- Minimize duplicate chemical purchases
- Promote responsible stewardship of chemical resources
- Reduce chemical storage impact on research and academic operations
- Decrease hazardous waste disposal and associated costs
- Support safe laboratory operations
- Advance University sustainability and waste reduction goals
Challenges of Chemical Use
- Partially used or unopened chemicals sitting idle
- Costly hazardous waste disposal
- Duplicate purchasing across departments
- Limited visibility into available surplus materials
ChemCycle Solution
- Inter-College and inter-institution sharing
- Reduced disposal and purchasing costs
- Centralized visibility of surplus inventory
- Built-in safety and compliance controls
How ChemCycle Works
Sharing Labs (Donating Chemicals)
Make a DonationRequesting Labs (Receiving Chemicals)
ChemCycle Surplus List (Items are first come, first serve)
