Beneficial Reuse & Donation

Consider the Waste Hierarchy

Prevention first. When contracting for any new supplies and equipment, consider disposal options during contract development.  There may be opportunities for recycling, donation, remanufacture or other type of take back for products and services.

There are likely many surplus medical supplies, equipment, and devices that are in good working order, but no longer in used or needed by your facility. Rather than disposing of these items through the waste stream, many healthcare facilities explore options for reuse through surplus resale or charitable donations to organizations in the community or as far away as a developing country on the other side of the globe.

A recent grant-funded report from the Catholic Health Association found that even with the best of intentions, much of the donated equipment and supplies go unused.  Donations can go idle, lack the required supplies, end up back-logged in warehouses and distribution centers, are broken or lack instruction for operation.  Learn more and ensure responsible equipment donation.  The Catholic Health Association is developing a guidance document to assist hospitals in identifying a responsible partner for equipment and supply donation.

Diverting waste through donation and surplus programs can help reduce waste disposal costs and, in some cases, even generate revenue if items are sold to other healthcare facilities or the public. In addition, the organization can avoid disposal issues associated with hazardous constituents in computers or other electronic equipment if these items are donated for reuse by other organizations. It is important, however to ensure items like electronics will be utilized by a third party recipient. Otherwise, this could be considered dumping--not a reputation healthcare organizations wish to attain. Finally, the organization can have a positive impact on your community and the world by donating needed medical supplies, equipment, and devices to charitable organizations, schools, and other organizations.

Be careful. Donation of unusable equipment is helpful to no one.  When donating, ensure there is a protocol in place for assessing usefulness of equipment and supplies and that the end user is fully prepared to understand how to use and benefit from the donation.  It has been determined that a large volume of donated equipment to developing countries is quite simply, unusable.  This becomes a burden to the receiving entity as they now have a piece of equipment or a type of supply that is of no use to them and is now on their hands for proper (or more likely, inproper) disposal.  Improve the chances of quality donation by partnering with experienced companies that have worked out the kinks and have deep knowledge and systems in place for a best management approach to equipment donation.  The best of intentions can end up in chemical-containing equipment, that cannot be used.

***Ensure estimates of weights for sustainability reporting.

Computers and Other Electronics

Computers and other electronics are often replaced before the end of their useful life. Consider donating the equipment to free healthcare clinics, schools, churches, or local shelters. Of course, special care should be taken to ensure all confidential data is removed from computers prior to donation and that the receiving party is aware of any end-of-life disposal requirements for the items. Donating electronic items versus disposal will avoid the strict disposal requirements of the Universal Waste Rule.

Furniture

When furniture is replaced through remodeling or renovation, used furniture and fixtures that are still of good quality can be made available to other departments at your facility or donated to other healthcare facilities in your community or state, such as free clinics. Alternatively, furniture from patient waiting areas and administrative offices could be donated to charitable or community organizations, or sold to the public through formal surplus programs.

Office Supplies

Used office supplies, such as desk organizers, binders, staplers, and scissors, and surplus office supplies, such as legal pads, pens and pencils, paper clips, and staples, can be donated to other departments at your facility as well as to public or charitable organizations, including schools, churches, or local shelters.

Food

Surplus food from the cafeteria at your facility, including prepared, perishable, and nonperishable items, can be donated to charitable organizations such as local shelters and food banks.  Food leadership can ensure rules and regulations are followed prior to donations.

Miscellaneous Items

With a little creativity, many other used and surplus items can be donated to charitable or other organizations for a variety of purposes. For example, old linens and towels can be donated to a local humane society or animal shelter for use as bedding in dog kennels (see Success Stories, below). In addition, items such as old magazines, coffee cans, or glass jars could be donated to local schools for use in class projects.

Check with Group Purchasing Organizations for donation partners. 

Donation Resources

Medical Equipment and/or Supplies Donation Programs: A number of reputable organizations collect medical equipment and supplies and distribute them to healthcare facilities in developing countries around the world. The following are just a few examples:

• Direct Relief International
• Global Links
• Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach
• IMEC (Improving Health Care for the World’s Poor)
• Med-Eq, The Medical Equipment Donation Agency
• Medisend International
• Medshare
• REMEDY, Recovered Medical Equipment for the Developing World

Community Classifieds: Classified advertisements in local newspapers and online resources such as MedMart and Craigslist may be used to sell used or surplus items, such as medical equipment and furniture to other healthcare facilities and the public, respectively.

Office Supply Exchange Program: A formal office supply exchange program could be established, allowing hospital personnel to drop off used or surplus office supplies and pick up needed office supplies before purchasing new items. The following