A summary of,‘assistive technology equipment recycling: a comparison and feasibility study’

To reduce costs for healthcare services, states and organizations are increasingly recycling Durable Medical Equipment (DME). The market for recycled durable medical equipment is now close to $300 million in sales (Tomsho, 1996). Assistive technology, which includes durable medical equipment, is defined as ‘any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities’ (20 U.S.C. Chapter 33). To study how these recycling programs were established and how they operate, a national survey of existing assistive technology recycling programs was conducted by the New York State Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID) Project. This survey revealed that recycling programs use a variety of operational approaches to accommodate community needs and resources and each program is somewhat unique. This report provides an overview of the methods employed by recycling programs to assure access to assistive technology by persons with disabilities.