Recycling of Supplies!

[allis]

Is it safe to recycle medical items when manufacturers clearly specify those items are single use only? I know some hospitals that recycle burs, blades, trocars, etc... Why? Economic problems? Eagerness to save the planet Earth? Isn't it too late to save the Earth anyway?:rolleyes:

[David Freeman]

Third party reprocessors have FDA approval to "re-manufacture" single use disposable products and in effect become "manufacturer's" of those products. They assume responsibility for function and sterility just as the OEM did originally. Some items lend themselves well to reprocessing, others not but at least in the case of the vendor we use, the recycling company will either reprocess the device or strip it to individual components and recycle the metals and plastics.

[LGB at CMH]

I was very interested in the article about recycling blue wrap in the Communique a few months ago. Where can I get more information? How do I start the process?

[citylmt7]

we contacted our local recycling facility which happened to be Smurfit and went from there. feel free to contact me at diana.mccully@shawneemission.org

[LGB at CMH]

Thanks for the starting point. I appreciate the help.

[Michelle Klett]

I saw a post the other day on AORN that a hospital was working with U-HAUL on recycling the blue wrappers and U-HAUL using them for packing

[allis]

Recycling! I was not thinking of the plastic trocars being melted to make toys for kids! Instead I had in mind those trocars being reprocessed by a company and returned on the shelves.
How effective is it to reprocess used items and reuse them in the O.R.? Many doctors in my hospital refuse to have the reprocessed items on their case carts! I was told that the patients are billed for each item used during surgeries. Do those patients pay the same prices for new and reprocessed items?
How much hospitals save with the recycling program? Not a penny in my hospital! We still order the same amount of items even with that program. Is it a way to make rich companies richer? I am just wondering!
Blue wrappers used by UHAUL is a great idea. That cannot be called recycling though! I feel more comfortable that the blue wrappers are not going to be used to wrap other trays for the O.R.! For packaging by UHAUL is OK to me, but... will they be sterilized before being delivered to UHAUL? I am just curious!