How to Make Money Recycling Medical Scrap
Valuable and precious metals are used in many medical devices. But before we explain where those metals are used, let’s answer this question . . .
Where can you buy scrapped medical devices?
A normal chest X-ray after placement of an ICD, showing the ICD generator in the upper left chest and the ICD lead in the right ventricle of the heart. Note the 2 opaque coils along the ICD lead. Image Credit: Gregory Marcus, MD, MAS, FACC
The short answer to that question is, it can be difficult to obtain large quantities of used medical devices. Hospitals generally do not carry large inventories of implantable defibrillators or pacemakers, for example. Those devices are expensive and usually ordered in small quantities. When new models are introduced, obsolete models are usually returned to their manufacturers so that they can be repurposed or recycled. And when implantable devices are replaced with newer devices in patients’ bodies, the used devices are either discarded as medical waste or returned to the companies that made them.
Still, it is possible to obtain and recycle quantities of some medical devices that can offer you a good return on your investment if you send them to us to be recycled. Let’s take a closer look.
Physicians insert a platinum EP catheter into a blood vessel that leads to the patient’s heart. Used EP catheters can be recycled profitably for your organization by Specialty Metals.
Platinum cardiac catheter tips and supplies. Platinum is the metal of choice for devices that are used to test how well patients’ hearts are functioning. Because cardiac catheterization procedures happen daily, hospitals generally have large quantities of these items on hand. They become available for sale after they become obsolete or after they have been used. If a hospital doesn’t regularly return obsolete or used supplies to their manufacturers, you can negotiate to buy them and send them to us to be recycled. And here’s another suggestion for you. Remember that veterinarians are now using platinum-tipped catheters to be used in cardiac tests that pet owners are demanding for their cherished dogs and cats. So vets can be another source of platinum testing scrap that you can profitably recycle.
Titanium orthopedic scrap. We do not recycle titanium, which is not classified as a precious metal. Still, it is valuable. Because the human body does not reject it, it is widely used to make plates and screws that are used to stabilize bones. When this metal hardware is removed, hospitals may recycle it or sell it as medical scrap.
Titanium and tantalum alloys from artificial knees and hips. Replacement joints are most often made of stainless steel, titanium alloys, and tantalum alloys. In addition, non-metallic plastics and ceramics are finding increasing use in artificial joints. Because people are living longer today, it is not uncommon for them to have knees or hips replaced several times during the course of their lives. Used items can be available as scrap from hospitals.
Other Sources of Valuable Recyclable Precious Metals from Hospitals
In addition to implantable metal items, hospitals can be good sources of other precious metals that you can buy and recycle. These items include . . .
- Gold from circuit boards in obsolete computers, electronic and testing devices.
- Thermocouples from scrapped laboratory testing equipment and even air conditioning systems.
- Platinum from used testing devices like crucibles, tongs and tweezers.
- Platinum and other precious metals from catalytic convertors from the diesel and gasoline-powered generators that are installed to protect hospitals from power outages.
Got Scrap? Call Us
Again, let us state that we do not recycle titanium. If you are able to obtain the other items we describe in today’s post, why not give us a call at 800-426-2344 to learn more. Recycling medical devices can be profitable. We are ready to explain how.
Related Posts:
Why It Pays to Recycle Electrophysiology (EP) Catheters
Snip the Tips to Make Surprising Money from Recyclables
Demand for Precious Metals Increases with Widespread Healthcare Changes
Why Smart Veterinarians Are Recycling the Platinum from Their Testing Supplies