Dialysis service provider DaVita Inc. and a subsidiary of recycling and refuse collection firm Waste Management are hoping to recycle 350,000 pounds of waste from kidney dialysis in a new recycling pilot.
WM Healthcare Solutions will run the project in conjunction with medical products firm Becton, Dickinson and Company. It will take place at 106 DaVita clinics in southern California.
The trial plans for BD to turn the recovered medical waste into new products.
“Until now, [we have not had] a ‘green’ way to dispose of dialyzers or other medical waste,” said Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita. “This pilot program has the potential to change the landscape of sustainable health care, particularly in the dialysis industry.”
In related news, Waste Management is moving into electronics recycling with the acquisition of two companies.
WM Recycle America LLC, a Waste Management subsidiary, has purchased Access Computer Products and Mordell LLC. The companies specialize in cell phone, ink and toner cartridge reuse and refurbishing used computer equipment.