Patrick Hebert

I've had type 1 diabetes for about 12 years and have worked in the electronic waste recycling industry for the past 3 years.

It never ceases to amaze me how much waste we as people with diabetes produce - from sharps and test strips to the glucometer itself.

I was recently laid off from an eRecycler and decided to do something about this problem. I did some research and found that there are virtually no recycling options out there for people to recycle their old glucometers.

If you have an old glucometer and would like to have it recycled to prevent polluting our environment, please visit my website to learn how you can participate - Med eWaste Recycling: Glucometer Recycling.

Unfortunately I can't process old glucometers for free because they have to be sterilized prior to dissassembly but if you'd like to help me make a difference and divert some of the estimated 25,000,000 glucometers in North America from the landfill I would really appreciate your help - I know future generations will appreciate not having biohazards in the landfill too!!

If I can work with a manufacturer or pharmacy at some point (Wal Mart, Shopper's or London Drugs?) who will assist in covering the cost of sterilizing the glucometers, it is my hope that this service will be extended at no cost to all people with diabetes.

Pat Hebert
Med eWaste Recycling

Terrie

It's not the Customers who make these products, it's the companies. It should be up to them to be responsible for take-back of all the products that they create that are not recycleable. There are take-back programs for some appliances and other products. Only a small start.

All the product wrappers and containers which cannot be recycled should be banned and should not have been allowed in the first place. Most of this garbage is not necessary. The Governments are in the position to make the ruling to do this but usually say nothing. The People are allowed to bring this forth to the Government and some have. But that also is not near enough yet.

Good luck with that one. So many Diabetics say that they can't afford their medications and strips for Diabetes and other conditions.
They've been complaining for years about the cost of meters, now the strips. I doubt many will pay to get rid of the meter when they ca give it to someone else or just toss it..

__________________
***Life Is A Highway.......T.C.

Patrick Hebert

I agree with you Terrie

It should be up to Johnson & Johnson, Bayer & all the rest of them to cover proper disposal & recycling. If I could do it for free I would but the cost of the energy to run the autoclave to sterilize glucometers is up there. If I can find a way to do it more efficiently I will definitely do it for free.

Sadly, we're only just beginning to regulate all the rest of e-waste in Canada - most of the governments think that charging consumers an extra "eco-fee" solves the problem.

Now whoever comes up with a way to recycle strips & deal with the cyanide they contain will be doing society a great service!

Patrick Hebert

I'm going to try it for free anyways - nothing ventured, nothing gained!! Thanks for the feedback Terrie, I agree that the cost of recycling should be on the pharma companies & not the consumer.

Terrie

Hello Patrick:

I do like your ideas and interest in cleaning up this, you may as well call it, toxic mess. I mean, some Scientists and other reseachers are looking for cures for diseases while other People are continually creating and applying these chemicals and elements into their products which cause diseases. Vicious circle and Very disappointing.

Although I do not know about the sterilizing and other processes of recycling at eWaste and similar companies, I give you credit for your caring. Five dollars is a minimal charge but it would cost about $8.00(CAD) to send the meter out.

Perhaps it would be more effective for Diabetics to have a drop-off area for the meters as they do for sharps. I've heard recently, that Our Government, is paying The Salvation Army to accept computers and monitors which are then sent to companies who recycle them. Perhaps you could get in on that program to help in your costs, if you are not already.

__________________
***Life Is A Highway.......T.C.

Patrick Hebert

Hi Terrie

Just wanted to let you know that I've contacted Medtronic, Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Shoppers Drug Mart, and a bunch of other companies to try to set up collection points & a program... it's slow going but I think there is enough interest out there to make it possible for people to recycle their old meters. The real challenge is setting it up so that it doesn't cost us diabetics anything to participate.

__________________
Patrick Hebert
Med eWaste Recycling

PrincessLainie

I would love to see this kind of reform as an industry standard in the near future!!! RECYCLE!

Patrick Hebert

Please ask your doctor / diabetes educator about it... I need a job & am passionate about electronic waste diversion... I'm hoping that I can work with some larger organization to make something like this possible but so far none have responded

The rep I spoke to at Johnson & Johnson / Lifescan actually told me that they just throw the meters out & don't recycle anything & weren't interested in doing so

__________________
Patrick Hebert
Med eWaste Recycling

mirmax

i
Pat Hebert

nteresting cuz Mr. Johnson is on TV promoting green,non-toxic, earth friendly,
energy saving,eco concerned etc.etc.etc.

With whom did u speak @ J&J ? Corporate ? PR,Consumer Relations ??

Big Co., many chiefs worth finding the right guy...great idea..U go Pat.....

Im in NJ..J&J are very present here.............

Patrick Hebert

I spoke to a customer service representative based out of BC, even asked to speak to a supervisor but got the same answer unfortunately.

__________________
Patrick Hebert
Med eWaste Recycling