Minnesota-based global non-governmental organization MATTER announces that thanks to the MATTER 360 initiative of repurposing medical equipment and supplies, 3.3 million pounds of medical surplus was saved from landfills in 2021. This represents an increase from 1.5 million pounds in 2020. 

MATTER has helped repurpose medical equipment and supplies since 2002 and has been involved with hazardous medical waste for the past three years. Organization officials say MATTER has accomplished this through distributions to international hospital and clinic partners, from resale efforts, and via recycling. 

Established partnerships with hospitals and clinics provide MATTER the opportunity to repurpose medical supplies and equipment, which accounts for 90% of donations. As a result, medical equipment and supplies that are no longer useful in the United States, take on a renewed purpose around the globe.

According to Lisa Campbell, director of purchased services contracting at UnityPoint Health, “The most important thing is that we want to make a difference in people’s lives all over the world. We have this reach in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, but we want to touch more lives than that.”

“This is such important work, being able to help organizations like MATTER with things that would otherwise go into the landfill, or we’d have to pay for someone to haul them away,” Campbell adds. “It makes perfect sense to partner with you. It’s a wonderful relationship, our whole vision and purpose are to show people how much they matter, and what better way to do that than by partnering with MATTER.”

Of the remaining supplies and equipment received, MATTER remarkets approximately 4% via sales channels to support MATTER projects and operations. Unusable supplies and equipment, approximately 5%, is recycled annually, resulting in total waste of just 1%.

“We remain committed to helping our ever-growing number of partners, easily and efficiently, donate medical supplies and equipment to benefit others when no longer useful in their present location,” says Joel Anderson, executive vice president of MATTER 360. “We greatly appreciate the trust that our partners, including hospital and clinics around the United States, place in us.”