There is lab2 – a new sustainability initiative putting used scientific equipment back into the market
In a quiet corner of the Wolfson building, until recently stood a powerful microscope like an unparalleled stone. The microscope, which was used by a researcher who has since left the Weizmann Institute of Science, cost tens of thousands of shekels when it was purchased years ago. But in the Department of Systemic Immunology, it was difficult to sell it for even a fraction of its original price, since the microscope was specially adapted to the needs of the research for which it was bought.
Until recently, the only address for this type of equipment was a recycling plant, says Adi Gottlieb, head of the department. "It's a shame, but with devices without demand there was nothing to do, except send them to the scrapyard," she explains.
This situation has changed thanks to a new initiative at the institute that focuses on the sale, delivery, transfer and use of old equipment. Thanks to this initiative of the surplus goods field, led by Moshe Buchhalter from the institute's operations division, a buyer was found for the microscope and several other instruments that had fallen out of use in Gottlieb's department, whose budget was added as a result of the sale by about NIS 35,000. Other departments throughout the institute have also added tens of thousands of shekels to the budget since the initiative began last year.
The initiative focuses on optimizing the handling of used equipment according to the principles of sustainability and optimal utilization of resources, and so far has yielded the institute about half a million shekels from the sale of devices and industrial waste for recycling. At the same time, she saved many thousands of shekels for other departments in the institute, which received free used equipment from other units or at a significant discount compared to the price they would have paid for new equipment, or even used equipment that is for sale outside the institute. Last but not least, the needy and non-profit associations won furniture and equipment that would have been thrown away without this initiative.
""Where equipment will collect dust and wear out in storage, we interest managers in it as an alternative to ordering new items. This solves the problem of lack of space for storage, eliminates the need for long transports, saves money and reduces the institute's environmental footprint."
"The researches of the institute's scientists are at the cutting edge of the field of sustainability. At the same time, work has been done for years to make sure that the cobbler does not go barefoot: that is, that the institute itself is conducted in accordance with the principles of sustainability", says Shimon Yishai, head of the operations department at the institute and adds: "The activity of the surplus goods field is another and welcome pillar in this effort." The Vice President for Administration and Finance, Prof. Alon Hermlin, clarifies: "This is an initiative that is a welcome and not obvious combination of sustainability and efficiency."
As part of the new initiative, was established An in-house site called LAB2 - whose name derives from that of the second-hand sales site yad2 - where various departments offer equipment and furniture for delivery or sale to the institute's bodies, and for several months the operations department has been advertising the site among managers and researchers.
Equipment that does not have buyers within the institute is transferred to external parties in order to receive price offers. "In recent months, we have put together a list of customers: companies that deal in scientific equipment and also bodies parallel to us in the scientific community in Israel," explains Buchhalter, who is responsible for these sales. "The Weizmann Institute is a strong brand, among other things, because the equipment here is among the most advanced available. Happily, word of mouth is spreading, and our customer list is growing and growing."
Before being appointed to manage the Tobin division, Buchhalter, who has been working at the institute for about six years, was one of the transport team at the institute. There he was exposed to the problem that the goods initiative was designed to solve. "In the transports, we would see a pattern: proper equipment but outdated or unnecessary, which was moved to indoor storage. There it gathered dust and after a few years it was moved to storage in a shed, to make room for more equipment that was sent to indoor storage. Under the shed, the equipment would wear out - and finally be thrown away."
Along with the sales and delivery effort, the surplus goods area also improved the waste recycling procedures. For example, recycling the hundreds of wooden surfaces (pallets) that the institute receives every year as part of the packaging of the goods that are unloaded at the institute on a regular basis. "These surfaces are a product, and this product has a market. So instead of throwing them into the trash cans and from there to landfill, we started piling them up and selling them to dealers in pallets," says Yeshi.
""In moving, we would see a pattern: equipment that was in good working order, but outdated or unnecessary, was moved to indoor storage, where it gathered dust, and after a few years was moved to storage in a shed, to make room for more equipment. Under the shed, the equipment would wear out - and finally be thrown away"
The Tobin initiative also does not neglect the institute's furniture, which is replaced with relatively high frequency, for example in transitions between rooms and during renovations. "Instead of used and functional furniture gathering dust and getting worn out in storage, we are interested in them for managers and managers as an alternative to ordering new items," says Yeshi. "This solves the problem of lack of space for storage, eliminates the need for long transports, saves money and reduces the institute's environmental footprint." Furniture and scientific equipment that are not needed at the institute are offered to the Rehovot municipality or donated to associations and social bodies subject to the decisions of the goods committee of the operations department, which meets once every few weeks.
And what about the furniture in Buchhalter Vichy's offices? "I inherited the furnished office from my predecessor in the position, so the furniture is necessarily second-hand," says Yeshi. Buchhalter looked as if he had been waiting for the question. "Of course, all the furniture in my office is also used from storage," he says with a smile. "Nice demands nice fulfills".
