Replenishing your stockpile and disposing of expired respirators
Now that you understand why respirators expire, and how to maintain your stockpile, you may also be interested in alternatives for what to do with your inventory once it has expired. Rather than disposing of your expired respirators in a landfill – there are other options to help you dispose of them in an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective way.
Option 1: Recycling
Expired/aging product can be recycled into new plastic products. For instance, through Deltco Plastics, there is no charge for this service (customers do pay shipping charges). Contact Deltco or your recycling provider to confirm eligible products, quantities and fees (if any).
Option 2: Waste-to-Energy (W2E)
In this option, disposed products are used as fuel for power generation. Contact an independent provider, such as Covanta Environmental Solutions or LJP Enterprises, to verify that your products are eligible. Contact a facility close to you. For your convenience, a list of facilities from CES and LJP is listed in this document. Shipping and disposal costs are typically the responsibility of the stockpile owner.
Option 3: Donation
Aging product with at least 12 months of shelf life remaining can be put in the hands of groups in need. 3M can help you identify donation options for your N95 stockpile. This solution may also allow your organization to receive a tax credit.
In order to help hospitals, emergency preparedness agencies, and business continuity managers achieve their sustainability and cost management goals, 3M created the 3M™ Disposable Respirator Stockpile Maintenance Program. It offers you several sustainable, convenient and cost-effective options for disposing of your aging and expired stockpiles of 3M™ N95 Respirators.
MSC can partner with you to help you find organizations that can recycle or donate your outdated respirators. MSC can also help plan a purchase schedule that can help you save money and reduce waste.