What do you do with unwanted, unused bags?

[UnXmas]

Because I've had so many different-sized stomas, I have drawers and drawers full of unused stoma bags that no longer fit. The other week I ordered a couple of boxes of new bags - twenty bags altogether. But after I'd placed the order, I had a couple of leaks, and worked out I needed convex bags again. So I ordered a couple of boxes of convex ones. The non-convex ones arrived yesterday, and it seems such a waste to throw them away! They won't even recycle. And the stoma nurses and hospital can't take them back to give to anyone else. I don't even need to keep them around as emergency spares, because I already have dozens and dozens of those!

It doesn't help that several months ago a new rule was brought in regarding ordering. When I first got a stoma, you'd ordered whatever products you wanted, and the delivery would arrive the next day. Then the suppliers would write to your GP for the prescription. But then they brought in the new rule - they need the prescription first, before they'll deliver, and getting the prescription takes about two weeks, so you have to order well in advance of running out of bags. Because my stoma has been shrinking since my last surgery, and because of the switch to convex, I've ended up ordering a lot of bags I can't use, because I don't have time to just order a couple and see if it works before ordering lots, because then I'd be stuck waiting weeks for the prescription. I need to order a good number of any size/shape I think I'll need, to make sure I've got plenty of whatever bag turns out to be best.

Is there anything I can do with the bags other than throw them away? They can't be sent back for use on others because of hygiene rules, etc. Is there anyway to recycle them, or even parts of them?

 

[Absentminded]

I was wondering about this. I have a load of baseplates and bags from when I had my Stoma and a lot of paediatric bags which I used when I had my fistula where my Stoma had been. I'm loathed to throw them away, but they're taking up space in my bathroom!

 

[2thFairy]

Donate them to a local ostomy group. There are several organizations that take unused bags and send them to third world countries. In the US, there are groups that give the donated bags to people who have no health insurance.

I used some of mine to demonstrate to my class how to use them and gave each of them one to size up and cut to fit on me for practice.

Please don't throw them away! There is always someone who could use them!

 

[2thFairy]

Check these out, especially the last one.

http://www.fowusa.org/donate.php
http://jacobswellappeal.org/get-involved/donate-items/
https://www.ostogroup.org/donations
http://ostomylifestyle.org/content/ostomyaid

 

[nogutsnoglory]

You cant donate to the hospital because they have to male sure it's sterile but the local ostomy group or the links 2thfairy posted work.

You can also request permission on here to post what you have and see if anyone here needs anything.

 

[Nyx]

I got a load of bags from someone on here before...I'm sure you can find someone to give them to. I know that I appreciated it, as I pay for all my supplies out of pocket.

 

[highlandsrock]

When I had my reversal any spare supplies were given to my wonderful stoma nurse at East Surrey Hospital and she used them either for training or passing on to overseas aid charities

 

[UnXmas]

Check these out, especially the last one.

http://www.fowusa.org/donate.php
http://jacobswellappeal.org/get-involved/donate-items/
https://www.ostogroup.org/donations
http://ostomylifestyle.org/content/ostomyaid

Thanks so much for this! Why on earth did my stoma nurse tell me no-one can take them?! She's usually so on the ball, when she said just to throw them, I assumed that was the only option!

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Please tell her otherwise. These are expensive supplies and people can really benefit.