Proper Disposal of Pooped CPAP

[SleepyGramps]

My old Polaris was feeling oddly gentle with its air flow, so I measured with a titration device, and it is indeed below the prescribed pressure. So I have ordered an XT Fit machine from cpap.com. I'm curious as to what is the politically correct way to dispose of a dying CPAP machine. It seems heartless to throw that beautiful old thing in the trash.

[Julie]

If it's no longer reliable, I wouldn't donate it to someone else, but do you not have a recycling program or facility for e.g. computers, etc. where you live?

[archangle]

If it's not working properly, it's probably not worth it for anyone to fix it, especially on such an old machine. You probably also want to be sure no one ends up trying to use it if you dispose of it by donating it.

If it works at all, you might want to keep it around, just in case you end up with your main CPAP being broken at some time.

As for recycling, I suspect the resources spent recycling it will be more than the value recovered from it. Recycling in general is good, but remember the process of recycling has an economic and environmental cost, too.

[Julie]

Yes, but not as large as throwing it in the garbage. That's not an excuse for not recycling and I imagine methods will improve over time. If we were to put a machine in the garbage vs recycling we'd be fined (or the bag not picked up if it was obvious what was inside).

[chunkyfrog]

I suggest a Maker space, or industrial arts class, where kids can take things apart and learn how things work.
Your old machine could become a mechanical cadaver, of sorts.
Or you could donate it to an artist, who could make the components part of art.

[CaptainRaven40]

Most places these days have a computer recycling center. That is where you would want to take it. Also if places do take donations you can give it to them if they will take it. They can either get it in working order or they will properly dispose of it. Those are the two options I can think of. Hope you figure it out.

[SleepyGramps]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm leaning toward keeping it as a better-than-nothing spare. There is a recycling place a few miles down the road, and they would take a computer, but I see no resemblance between that and a CPAP machine.

Might CPAP.com attempt to repair an old Polaris Ex that I did not buy from them?

[Julie]

I doubt it, but really think you should bring your machine to the facility down the road... it's mostly computer type components involved and if they don't want it they'll tell you. Don't you want to save the planet for your grandkids if nothing else?

[Cardsfan]

I'd keep it as a better than nothing spare. Stick it in the closet.

[BlackSpinner]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm leaning toward keeping it as a better-than-nothing spare. There is a recycling place a few miles down the road, and they would take a computer, but I see no resemblance between that and a CPAP machine.

Might CPAP.com attempt to repair an old Polaris Ex that I did not buy from them?

Look up the company that made it and they will indicate the official repair depots.
I doubt it is worth repairing.

The whole recycling aspect of the industry kind off annoys me. The masks are designed to fail and so is the humidifier. This is gear we have to use for the rest of our lives, it should not be disposable within 3 months.

[chunkyfrog]

Forum member Accurate works at acbio.com, a cpap repair outfit some here have used.
You could PM him.

[Sheriff Buford]

I gotta bat... pitch it too me and I'll knock over to the yard next door.

Sheriff

[SewTired]

Depends on your city and who is available locally. There is a local guy who disassembles anything electronic and then recycles the stuff according to type. In addition, my city has a twice monthly collection of all electronics - I know they take medical equipment as well (even blood glucose monitors).

I would only donate or sell equipment that is in proper working order. My bro still has his old Remstar, but we know that the actual pressure produced doesn't match his new machine. He wants to keep it as a backup (although he never had one before), but it will probably go out in another year. I told him that he is better off buying a barely used bipap off Craigslist if he wants a backup. There are plenty of them listed.

[Goofproof]

I suggest a Maker space, or industrial arts class, where kids can take things apart and learn how things work.
Your old machine could become a mechanical cadaver, of sorts.
Or you could donate it to an artist, who could make the components part of art.

In my day, it was called a Alley. At age 8 I'd collect small discarded appliances, take them to the garage and see what makes them tick or not tick. This was in the time of tube radios. I fixed a lot of them, tested the tubes, some could be brought to life just by reseating the tubes. We always had old b/w tv's, they always needed work, tuners to clean, got good at that. Took a supply of rubber bands too.

I learned early in life, if I wanted to survive, I needed to learn how things worked for myself. Jim

[chunkyfrog]

Gift a geek this week.