Basic Services

The Bio21 Institute provides a number of basic services:

Laundry

A laundry service for laboratory coats, gowns, uniforms and cotton toweling is available to all Bio21 Institute research groups:

  • Laundry bags have been placed in the storeroom at the end of aisle 7 for respective departments 
  • Dirty laundry is collected Thursday every second week and returned the following Monday after 2 pm
  • Each department is responsible for collecting their own clean laundry from the storeroom
  • Billing will be by a monthly chargeout transaction to departments

Refer all laundry queries to bio21-stores [at] unimelb.edu.au (Stores)

Toilets, showers/change rooms

Toilets are available in the atrium on each level of the building:

  • Shower and change room facilities are available on all floors in toilets provided for disabled access
  • The Institute does not provide towels or shower accessories

Lockers

Lockable hampers and pedestals are located in offices:

  • In postgraduate student offices, each student desk has access to a lockable hamper and one drawer, which are on the same key
  • Additional lockers are located on each floor under pigeon holes; these are used at the discretion of the resident groups
  • Keys to these lockers will be issued and managed by individual departments or research groups

Mail

The Institute's central mailroom is located on ground level, north next to the security office:

  • Mail is delivered there daily from the University's central mailroom and sorted for collection from the mailroom
  • Outgoing mail (internal or external) is collected by the Building Supervisor daily from the mailroom to enable same day dispatch
  • All outgoing mail must be identified by the sender's name, department/group and include instructions for mailing (e.g. airmail, printed matter)
  • Where appropriate, University employees and students should use the Victorian Courier Service (internal mail service) 
  • Please ensure all mail for postage is in a satchel which identifies the department/group for appropriate charging
  • Private unstamped mail will not be processed

Mail enquiries are to be directed to bio21-reception [at] unimelb.edu.au (Bio21 Reception).

Waste Disposal

The Bio21 Institute manages waste disposal:

  • Hazardous waste is to be brought to the loading bay area Monday to Friday,12pm-2pm for storage
  • It may be accepted at other times, if there is an urgent need, by contacting the Stores Manager, peter.coles [at] unimelb.edu.au (Peter Coles).
  • When disposing of waste all users need to ensure container lids are securely fastened to prevent spillage
  • Containers must be of appropriate high density plastic
  • Glass or metal containers will not be accepted due to transportation and corrosion risks
  • Any waste that is inappropriately labelled or packaged will not be accepted
  • Users must provide a completed disposal form and the department/lab/group details must be included on each container's label - if in doubt, see the procedures posted on the wall outside the waste storage room
  • New labels, containers and waste disposal forms can be collected from the waste storage area

  • PC2/biohazard waste is disposed of in the 240 Litre yellow biohazard wheelie bins available for purchase by Bio21 Stores account holders
  • Empty bins must be ordered online via the lab's stores account and collected from a holding area in the loading bay - these will be issued by stores staff only
  • Full bins may be dropped off at the loading bay weekly on Thursday afternoons for collection Friday morning when new bins will be delivered

Recycling and/or Disposal

Stores can arrange the following:

Recycling 

  • Dry batteries
  • Cardboard
  • Metal
  • Paper
  • Plastic containers

Disposal

  • Chemicals, dry waste
  • Computers and printers
  • Cytotoxic waste
  • Glass waste
  • Solvent waste
  • Hard waste
  • Radioactive wet and dry waste
  • Toner cartridges
  • Visy wheelie bins
  • Wooden crates & pallets