Recycle or Re-Purpose Your Old Oxygen Concentrator

Recycle or Re-Purpose Your UnUsed Oxygen Concentrator

Rate This Story

5 Votes So Far

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

So you have an old oxygen concentrator, and you’re ready to upgrade to a new one. This is a great idea, even though your old concentrator might be working fine for you, there are many good reasons to get a new one such as:

  • A higher energy efficiency, which means a much lower electric bill.
  • More space in your home, since new oxygen concentrators tend to be smaller.
  • A better nice rest, or family members who aren’t disturbed by the louder hum from older oxygen concentrators.

Recycle or Re-Purpose Your Old Concentrator

Before having your our old oxygen concentrator hauled off to the dump, here are some much more economically and environmentally sound ways to get rid of your old oxygen concentrator, batteries, or parts.

You can try calling the retailer you bought the oxygen concentrator from, or the manufacturer of the concentrator, and ask them if they refurbish them for others to use. Your old oxygen concentrator could be fixed up and used by a medical facility or an individual who cannot afford to buy a brand new one. This is something many people do, since a used oxygen concentrator might be all someone needs, and they can save a lot of money by purchasing one.

If your unit is too old or out of date for a retailer or manufacturer to refurbish, you still might able to find a new life for it, even if it is used as something else. Also, the most worn-out oxygen concentrator will produce enough oxygen to assist a lamp glass maker in heating a torch for glass working. Your old oxygen unit could be used to make art! Put it up on a buy sell trade website and see if you get any takers.

How to Recycle Portable Oxygen Concentrator Batteries

The lithium-ion batteries that come with today’s portable oxygen concentrators are known for making life much more fun-filled and convenient. You can expect these batteries to last for an average of 3 years before they begin to lose their charge too quickly to be of much use.

So how do you safely recycle a battery like this? The best way to do this would be to take your old portable oxygen concentrator batteries to your nearest Call 2 Recycle drop off location. Call 2 Recycle is an organization that collects old cell phones and rechargeable batteries to recycle. You don’t have to pay anything, you find your nearest drop off point via their drop off locator page (http://www.call2recycle.org/locator/ ) and type in your location. It’s likely that you don’t have one far from where you live.

Page last updated: November 16, 2018

Rate This Story

5 Votes So Far

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.

Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

About Scott Ridl:

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more. Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

49 thoughts on “Recycle or Re-Purpose Your UnUsed Oxygen Concentrator

    • Thank you for your inquiry. I have passed along your information to a specialist who will reach out regarding your request. For more immediate assistance feel free to give our specialists a call at 888-360-9628 or if you prefer email sales@amsrco.com

      • I bought a Perfecto home concentrator and it somehow got damaged when I moved from Georgia. The yellow light comes on and it says to call. So I did, and they want me to send it back to them to repair but I can’t afford to do that. It’s mine straight out but no one here will fix it because I bought it. Any suggestions on who I could possibly donate it to so they can fix it for someone?

        • Please contact the manufacturer to find repair options for your unit. Some manufacturers cover the shipping cost when the unit is under warranty.
          For donations, please reach out to the nearest church or list it on craigslist.

      • Our Oxygen Specialists would be happy to understand your requirements and advise the way forward. Please give us a call at +1 (877) 644-4581.

      • I have two o2 canasters, not sure how much O2 is inside, neighbor grandma is not needed it anymore, but they were throwing it out to dumpster and with a panoramic ,canisters that are to contain O2 concentrated are important. Also a Gage, and walker/Wheels to have the 3 ft tall canasters portable. I know that they have been refill for O2 concentrate. Just don’t know where to go with them.

      • We have an old concentrator that doesn’t work and the manufacturer won’t take it. Where can we get rid of it? Will the trash people take it?

      • I am looking for a used portable oxygen concentrators for my wife im disabled and can’t lift the bottles in and out of the car

  1. How can you be assured that the refurbished concentrator you have received wasn’t used by someone with a communicable disease or drug use that could wind up harmful to you? Can these truly be successful disinfected and free from contamination when passed patient to patient?

    • When purchasing a used concentrator always purchase from a reputable company. Do your homework. What do the customer reviews say, how long have they been in business, do they have a physical location and most importantly check to see if they work with an accrediting agency. There are 9 accrediting agencies and we are ACHC certified.

      There are no other government approved agencies that can verify the business you are purchasing from is a real operation with approved health, safety, and business practices. These external agencies actually come in and verify the operation and business practices with a full day audit. This includes such important details as HIPAA requirements, credit card management, support processes, cleanliness, and financial viability. Additionally, with an organization that is accredited, you have an additional path of recourse should something go awry.

  2. I property manage and have residents that pass away and the companies dont want to come back and get them. I would like to get rid of them for just the 35 dollar storage

    • Hi Michael.

      We do have a buyback program for oxygen concentrators but we tend to purchase from the owner of the concentrator, we are unable to help you in your idea. Also as those that are left are stationary, we do not buyback those models. I would research a local home care provider in your area who might be able to help you on this.

      Good Luck and thanks for reaching out.

        • Sorry to hear of your loss. Unfortunately, our buyback program is currently on hold as our buyback inventory is overstocked. Nonetheless, we encourage you to complete the Buyback Form at and our Buyback Team will contact you if there’s an opportunity.

  3. I have a large oxygen concentrator on wheels that still works. It probably needs to be refurbished some. I am going to get a new one that is a little smaller. Would you want mine? You are welcome to have it and fix it up for someone that needs it. It is a Respironics EverFlow Q OPI with water bottle for moist air.

    Thank you,
    Belinda Pate

  4. Hello,
    I have 2 older large oxygen concentrator thst are not in use any longer. Can I donate them? I am located in NJ. Thank you.

  5. I have an old oxygen concentrator as well as several oxygen tanks that my Mom used. She has now passed away and we need to dispose of them. How can we do that?

  6. My mother has a Invacare Oxygen Concentrater on wheels and a Homefill II. Do you take these to refurbish? MedCare does not take them back. Thanks.

    • Hi Jennifer, Currently our buyback program is on hold since our buyback inventory is full. However, please contact our Buyback Team at (855) 838-0923 or buybacks@amsrco.com and they will reach out to you when the program is resumed.

  7. Hi Sanket, i am touch to buy old oxygen concentrate machine, its 4.5 years old n used for 7500 hrs. Can you suggest me in this regard..

    • Hi Vikas, our Oxygen Specialists would be happy to understand your requirements and advise the way forward. Please give us a call at +1 (877) 644-4581.

    • Almost all oxygen concentrators have an hour-used meter. It could be either in a digital or analog format. Please refer to the user’s manual for more information.

  8. I have two (2) Invacare Homefill Systems that have never been used, along with two (2) tanks; Model Numbers HF2PCL6 and HF2PCL4 with carrying cases; and the hardware, which have never been used.

    I am open to any proposal, I live in Vista, California.

  9. Hi, I need some advice, I live in Colombia. I purshes a Inogen 3 seven 7 years ago. It stoped working. I have about 6 pairs of columns and I have no idea how to disposile them.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *