What To Do With Your Used and Old Breast Pump?

Hello there! I hope your breastfeeding and pumping journey is going well! Today, let’s continue the conversation about breast pumps, particularly how to dispose your used and old breast pump(s).

Once I planned my family and had the six kids I wanted (some of them were a surprise, to be honest!), there came a time when I had to bid farewell to my dependable pump. They also wear and tear, so it’s vital to dispose of them responsibly.

In this post, I thought I’d talk a bit about giving breast pumps a new life through donation, ensuring they get recycled, or disposing of them in an eco-friendly way.

What To Do With Your Old Breast Pump – 3 Easy Ways

When you decide to let go of your used breast pump, know that you’ve got three options:

1. donating usable pumps
2. recycling
3. disposing of broken pump parts

Let’s dive into these options in detail!

1. Donating Your Used Breast Pump

There is something you should know about donating, moms: Many organizations DO NOT take old breast pumps because of hygiene and the liability that comes with them, since breast pumps are medical equipment.

But, women’s shelters, breastfeeding support groups, and online communities gladly accept semi-used, hygienic breast pumps. And I recommend these options. I donated the last set of pumps to a mum I got to know from the women’s shelter!

Not everyone can afford one, so you can do your part to help them out.

Here’s how I started.

1. I looked into online platforms that accept donated breast pumps. I even scouted my local women’s shelters to donate usable pumps.
2. Next, I read up on their rules because some have requirements about the condition of the breast pump to donate, cleaning instructions, and delivery points.
3. Then, I cleaned and sterilized all the parts according to instructions and air-dried them before packing. Oh, and please do not donate dirty pumps! That’s a lot of disease and infection that nobody needs.
4. After that, I called the recipient to confirm the donation and arranged shipping. My husband even helped me pack my breast pump properly using sturdy boxes and cushioning so it stays intact during transit.

And if you are shipping the pump, contact them again to ensure they receive it. You don’t want it to get lost in transit without information about if it reached.

Donating Breast Pump Accessories

You might ask what about donating breast pump accessories like backflow protectors, breast shields, etc.?

I would rather not do that. These come into direct contact with your skin and the milk, so it can get contaminated. But you can recycle or dispose of these accessories sensibly.

You can also read my post on how long breast pumps last to understand when to replace parts.

2. Recycling Your Old Breast Pump

Recycling is about being responsible for our trash so we don’t unnecessarily crowd landfills. And for that, we need to identify the recyclables and where to recycle them. All this doesn’t take that much effort, either!

I made it a point to recycle my third and fourth sets of pumps.

1. So, first, find recycling centers or programs around your area. Usually, there are recycling centers that happily accept breast pump parts. I found mine a few miles away. Oh, and one more thing! There are pump manufacturers who may offer recycling programs for their products. So, visit their website to see the services they offer.
2. Next, I read their guidelines as usual. My local recycling center had specific cleaning instructions and drop-off locations for electronic waste, like breast pumps.
3. After that, I sorted the recyclables. In my area, motors, plastic components, and electronic parts are mostly recyclable. You can even check the manufacturer’s instructions or search online. For example, Spectra has an entire recycling guide written out.
4. Then, I cleaned and dropped off the recyclables at a location they maintained.

It was pretty easy too. I got this done in a day after finding the recycling center.

3. Safe Disposal of a Breast Pump

And, yes, I understand. Some of you may not have recycling programs in your area, and the pump manufacturer might not take it back. 

But even in these cases, there’s still a safe route to part ways with your breast pump.

1. First off, check the manufacturer’s instructions and separate the recyclable bits. Parts like bottles, connectors, caps, sealing discs, and breast shields are recyclable (only) at local waste collection centers. But you should check about the tubes, teats, electrical components, and motors.
2. Next, let’s tackle disposal. Check your local regulations. Some areas have specific drop-off points or instructions for electronic waste, while others might have other rules for medical equipment disposal. 

If you’re still unsure, don’t hesitate to call your local waste management or recycling center! Better safe than sorry. Also, the same applies to expired or overused baby bottles. Please ensure you recycle or dispose of them as safely as possible.

Recommended Reading: When to start pumping breast milk?

How to Clean Your Breast Pump?

Alright. No one wants a dirty breast pump. Not me and not you. So, let’s give other mothers the same as what we expect.

Let’s clean AND sterilize before we even think to donate or recycle. I’ve already written a complete guide on how to clean, sanitize, and sterilize breast pumps, but here is the summarized version of the article:

1. Start by detaching all the breast pump parts, scrubbing them clean with soap, and rinsing them thoroughly in water. I always dip and rinse them in hot water again for extra safety.
2. Next, I let everything air-dry on a fresh, dry towel, kept away from dust and dirt. Don’t pat dry it with the towel because it transfers bacteria to your washed pump. Just let it take its time to dry.
3. Now, it’s time to sterilize the parts to remove almost all traces of germs. You can use steam sterilizer bags or steam cleaning machines, or immerse the parts in hot water to remove germs you cannot see.
4. Finally, air-dry them again and pack them in a sealed bag if you consider donating or recycling them.

You might also like: 5-Step Guide to Use a Manual Breast Pump Effectively

Conclusion

We put enough effort into choosing the right pump for us and the baby. So, it makes sense to put just a little more effort into disposing of breast pumps in a conscious way as well.

Please choose responsible options like donating or recycling, and if you donate, please make sure the pump parts are squeaky clean.

There’s also this: If you have a new to barely used breast pump that you would like to sell (or donate), then eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and similar online platforms are your best bet.

Happy parenting.