Recycling Implants And Medical Devices

In my will, I have donated my body to UCSD Medical School. thinking this was a very green burial thing to do.  For those who need to know their loved ones are close, a fairly new non-profit organization just came to my attention, Alternative Solutions who recycle various implants and prosthetic devices at crematoriums. When you think about it, how much metal, orthopedics and implants get burned and buried this is a great solution for a green burial.  The best part is they donate proceeds to a charity of your choice. And it is easy to do, you do have to sign a waiver or form, saying you want your medical devices to be recycled. It is legal if you do that.

We had done a post on recycling prosthetic limbs, not even thinking about pacemakers or dental implants.

I Just Gotta Eco Ya

• More than 80 Million Americans use some type of Prosthetic orthopedic device
• Devices are comprised of titanium, staples, screws all are recyclable
• About 3.6 million sets of dentures manufactured in the world, and each set contains about $25 worth of precious metals, including gold and silver. Most unwanted dentures are thrown away,
• There are about 3 million people worldwide with pacemakers, and each year 600 000 pacemakers are implanted about 200,000 in the US alone. Around the world 1-2 Million people die every year because they can’t afford a pacemaker, 84% of pacemakers are thrown away.

Resources:

Where to Recycle Prosthetic Limbs Listing