"Reducing the landfill" with reprocessing program - AMDR | Association of Medical Device Reprocessors

Before the buyback program started 2 years ago, OR staff would throw the Harmonic scalpels into a red sharps container, along with syringes, suture and glass vials. The key was educating staff to segregate the devices to be reprocessed into the green bins. Compliance has been outstanding. From August of last year to this year, Ms. Stengel calculates that the reprocessing program has saved her facility $37,000 in instrument purchasing and an additional $1,900 in landfill costs. “That’s not pocket change,” says Ms. Stengel.