Where to dispose of medical equipment

TeePee

TeePee

Member
Location
Kentucky
My husband passed away a while back. He was on tube feedings via feeding pump. I have got feeding bags, syringes, suction cannisters coming out of my ying yang and can't find anyone who will take them. I'm not wanting to sell them; I'd like to give them to someone who needs them since some insurances will not pay for these supplies. My question is, do you know of any agency that will take them for free? I've called all over and haven't found anyone. I've tried hospitals, nursing homes, Goodwill, etc.. I've put so much money into them; I hate to throw them in the trash if someone can use them. Thanks for any info that might help
 

You have to just throw them away. There are regulations in most places concerning contamination. I have all that stuff myself from my cancer treatment. Only I'm keeping mine in case something happens.
 

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oscash said:
I don't know of any place that would take your husband's medical equipment. I think once it's been used it has to be destroyed
due to health reasons. In hospitals you see nurses putting used equipment straight into the bins.
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supplies that's still in packages never used, but you're right...most have told me
oscash said:
I don't know of any place that would take your husband's medical equipment. I think once it's been used it has to be destroyed
due to health reasons. In hospitals you see nurses putting used equipment straight into the bins.
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His supplies are brand new in their packages. Someone just responded that they gave theirs to the Health Department. I hadn't tried them. I will try them Monday. Thanks for your reply!
 
Aunt Bea said:
You could try finding a place that could use the supplies for training purposes but I would rather toss the unused supplies than risk contaminating a compromised individual.

IMO the important thing is to get rid of them and get on with the next chapter of your life.
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That's a good idea. The supplies are brand new in their packages but I realize once they are delivered to residences, they are considered used. It just seems such a waste when I'm throwing brand new items away when someone less fortunate might need it. Thanks for your advise. I might see if there is any agency around that might take them for training purposes.
 
robin416 said:
Try your county health department. When my husband lost his battle I took all of the medical stuff and donated it to an office affiliated with them.
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That's a very good idea. I will try that Monday. I just hate the thought of throwing away unused supplies someone less fortunate might be able to use. Some insurance companies won't pay for these supplies. We had good insurance and we still paid a lot of money for supplies. Thanks for your suggestion.
 
TeePee said:
That's a very good idea. I will try that Monday. I just hate the thought of throwing away unused supplies someone less fortunate might be able to use. Some insurance companies won't pay for these supplies. We had good insurance and we still paid a lot of money for supplies. Thanks for your suggestion.
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Since I don't live in a high income area there are homebound or hospice patients that the items were given to.
 
I don't know anything about these organizations. I know someone who donated unused ostomy supplies to another country, using a US based organization. If all else fails, you might want to contact one of them.

Unused medical equipment and supplies can be donated to foreign organizations through specialized non-profits that coordinate the collection and distribution of these items. These organizations ensure that donations are useful and meet the specific needs of recipients in developing countries, and they handle the logistics of shipping and customs. Examples of organizations that facilitate these donations include Project C.U.R.E., MedShare, and MAP International.
 
I've been working in nursing homes since 1996. Items like you mentioned are thrown out. You cannot reuse them! I've and other co-workers have been throwing them out for years. We throw them in the dumpster. There's no reason you can't throw them out in your own garbage. No one's going to check what you are throwing out.
 
HoneyNut said:
Maybe you could list them on freecycle.org. I haven't used it recently, but I used it in Colorado and in Nebraska.

Or you could sell them (cheap) on ebay (though then you have the hassle of shipping).
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Actually I bought his suction cannisters from ebay. I don't want to mess with it. I just as soon give it to an agency who can distribute it to someone who might need it. Thanks for your suggestion! I've never heard of freecycle.org but I sure will look them up.
 
Kika said:
I don't know anything about these organizations. I know someone who donated unused ostomy supplies to another country, using a US based organization. If all else fails, you might want to contact one of them.

Unused medical equipment and supplies can be donated to foreign organizations through specialized non-profits that coordinate the collection and distribution of these items. These organizations ensure that donations are useful and meet the specific needs of recipients in developing countries, and they handle the logistics of shipping and customs. Examples of organizations that facilitate these donations include Project C.U.R.E., MedShare, and MAP International.
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Thank you so much for your suggestion! I will definitely try them.
 
Paladin1950 said:
I've been working in nursing homes since 1996. Items like you mentioned are thrown out. You cannot reuse them! I've and other co-workers have been throwing them out for years. We throw them in the dumpster. There's no reason you can't throw them out in your own garbage. No one's going to check what you are throwing out.
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but if they are in unopened packages and never used, they are not being re -used.
 
Paladin1950 said:
I've been working in nursing homes since 1996. Items like you mentioned are thrown out. You cannot reuse them! I've and other co-workers have been throwing them out for years. We throw them in the dumpster. There's no reason you can't throw them out in your own garbage. No one's going to check what you are throwing out.
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The supplies I have are in their packages they came in and never used. He passed away before he could use them all. It seems like a waste throwing away medical items that have never been used. I had to throw his feeding pump in the trash because it can't be donated. I worked in a nursing home from 1989-2023 and they didn't throw feeding pumps or IV pumps out. We just cleaned them and passed them on to the next patient. Having said that, I know a hospital or nursing home can't take them, I just thought maybe some volunteer agency might take them for less fortunate people who might need them. I've had a few good suggestions, that I'm going to work on. If not, my next move is the trash.
Thanks for getting back with me.
 
@TeePee ….you are so very right…it is a terrible waste. And not a necessary one either. Back in the day we used to autoclave and reuse so many things that now have an “expiration” date on them. Definitely planned obsolescence. It about killed me to discard so much unused medical supplies…when I knew that other countries would BEG to have trach tubes or rolled gauze that had never been opened or used.
When my brother died I was able to donate a bunch of his stuff to the Saint Vincent DePaul.
 
Per
TeePee said:
The supplies I have are in their packages they came in and never used. He passed away before he could use them all. It seems like a waste throwing away medical items that have never been used. I had to throw his feeding pump in the trash because it can't be donated. I worked in a nursing home from 1989-2023 and they didn't throw feeding pumps or IV pumps out. We just cleaned them and passed them on to the next patient. Having said that, I know a hospital or nursing home can't take them, I just thought maybe some volunteer agency might take them for less fortunate people who might need them. I've had a few good suggestions, that I'm going to work on. If not, my next move is the trash.
Thanks for getting back with me.
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Personally, I wouldn't trust or want used or even unused medical equipment that's been sitting around in someones home. Too much of a risk. Doctors always told me of the importance of hygiene going through any type of treatment. Especially a life threatening one.
 
I dislike any kind of waste and try to avoid it, but - - - whether opened or unopened, once medical supplies leave your hands, you'll have no way of knowing who will be handling them in the chain of transfer. If any patient developed an infection, I would not want any supplies traced back to me with a possibility I could be found personally liable. Medical and personal injury lawsuits can become big legal matters and include extensive investigations.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I dislike any kind of waste and try to avoid it, but - - - whether opened or unopened, once medical supplies leave your hands, you'll have no way of knowing who will be handling them in the chain of transfer. If any patient developed an infection, I would not want any supplies traced back to me with a possibility I could be found personally liable. Medical and personal injury lawsuits can become big legal matters and include extensive investigations.
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I agree. I've had them at the house since he passed away in February and no luck since then getting rid of them. I was straightening up my supply room today and was going to throw the items away, and a friend of mine suggested trying to give the items away again. I've had a few suggestions on here. One person gave some addresses of agency's that forwards medical items to third world countries. That sounded like that might be an option. Our neighbor lady knows the person in the County Health Department and she's going to check with them for me. If all else fails, I will pitch them.
 
TeePee said:
I agree. I've had them at the house since he passed away in February and no luck since then getting rid of them. I was straightening up my supply room today and was going to throw the items away, and a friend of mine suggested trying to give the items away again. I've had a few suggestions on here. One person gave some addresses of agency's that forwards medical items to third world countries. That sounded like that might be an option. Our neighbor lady knows the person in the County Health Department and she's going to check with them for me. If all else fails, I will pitch them.
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I appreciate the effort you've been putting into this. Hopefully something will work out.
 

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