In its first year in operation, MedShare was named a 2009 Waste Reduction Awards Program(WRAP) winner by The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB).
The WRAP awards honor California companies and nonprofits for workplace solutions to cut their waste output and reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills. MedShare was recognized for their efficient recovery and redistribution of surplus medical supplies and equipment to improve the environment and healthcare.
“A healthy business community is indispensable to our economy, and the steps these WRAP winners have taken toward resource management, recycling, and waste reduction are impressive,” said Board Chair Margo Reid Brown. “All these businesses have managed to make their bottom line greener while helping preserve our environment.”
MedShare launched California’s first large-scale medical supply recycling center in 2008. They collect unused, unexpired surplus medical supplies and equipment from hospitals and medical distributors. These are items that would be destined for landfills, but instead, MedShare redistributes them to needy hospitals in developing countries, as well as, community-based health clinics throughout California.
“This is our first year of operations, and we are honored that our waste reduction efforts are being recognized by the State of California” said Chuck Haupt, Executive Director, MedShare’s Western Region. “In cooperation with leading hospitals and manufacturers we were able to divert over 60 tons of surplus supplies from landfills in 2008.”
In Northern California, there are more than 20 hospitals participating in MedShare’s innovative Hospital Recovery Program. These hospitals recognize the local environmental benefit that their contributions have, and the impact that they will have on global health.
“We have been please with the support that MedShare has received from hospitals and medical companies during our first year of operation in California, and this award only strengthens the support of our environmental efforts,” said A.B. Short, Co-Founder and CEO of MedShare.
In 10 years of operation, MedShare has shipped over 500 forty-foot shipping containers of surplus medical supplies and equipment abroad, which accounts for over one million cubic feet of landfill space saved.
