Diabetes product makers - what about recycling?
One of the things that really bothers me about diabetes is the sheer amount of stuff that we go through.I'm using a Dexcom CGMS and two insulin pumps and a OneTouch Ultra right now. So over the course of a month I basically throw away about this much disposables stuff
- 9-10 insulin infusion sets, with tubing, reservoirs, packaging, used IV prep wipes, etc.
- 180 used blood glucose test strips with blood on them
- 3-4 empty test strip containers
- 1-2 used lancets
- 2-4 Dexcom sensors plus their inserters and wrapping
- 1-2 empty insulin vials
- 1 empty Symlin vial
I know it would be a challenge, but couldn't some of this be made from recycled materials, or at least coded to that it is recyclable? It might only be a small amount of possible recycling but over the course of a year it would really add up.
I'd like to challenge materials folks at the various companies to think about this as they design packaging. See how you can reduce the waste so we're leaving less of an imprint behind us.
For example, I really liked the wrapping for my new Dexcom system. It arrived in a big plastic bubble (like cell phone gadgets at stores) and I was not looking forward to opening it. Imagine my joy when it popped right open and it was marked with a #1 PET symbol so I could actually recycle it. Nice job Dexcom folks.
Labels: diabetes, recycle, reuse, trash
posted by Bernard @ 12:40 PM
3 Comments:
I used to worry about this a lot. I'm a big treehugger, but ever since I read the "Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices" by the Union of Concerned Scientists, I haven't let medical waste bother me much. It looks like a lot, but it's a very tiny portion of our overall impact on the planet. And recycling plastic is only marginally useful. We can make a bigger difference focusing on housing, transportation, and food--and those are easier to change, too.
Hi Bernard! Thanks for stopping by my blog and saying hi. I'm so happy to have finally found a diabetic who has also adopted. I have many questions for you! Hope it's okay if I pop you an email...
Talk to you soon
Kayce
Hi Bernard, My kids keep the strip bottles to store stuff in. Last year we donated some to our local scouts so they could store peroxide, and alcohol in them for their first aid kits. She uses about 200 strips a month, so there is about 8 bottles we are recycling.
My daughter is also saving the ends of the plunger that we use to fill her cartridges. They are a brilliant blue. I don't know what she will ever do with them, but she wants to do an art project with them.
It's not a lot, but it is a start. Too bad other things aren't more reusable, eh? Save money, and the planet!
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