Hearing Aid Recycling
Don't throw away old hearing aids. Recently got a new cochlear implant? Or did you just upgrade your hearing? Or do you have a hearing aid just sitting around? Well instead of throwing away your hearing aid, someone out there can find some use for it. For adults a hearing aid can make all the different from getting a job or holding on to an existing job. For children, a hearing aid can mean the ability to learn better due to having access to sounds.
Here are few of the organizations that recycle old hearing aids for the less fortunate.
Domestic United States options for used hearing aids
Hear Now
If your objective is to help someone in the United States,
you can donate your used hearing aid to Hear Now in Eden Prairie, Minnesota,
which is part of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Hear Now takes the donated
hearing aids and has them repaired, then resells them. That revenue is used to
buy newer hearing aids for people who can not afford them. The Hear Now address
is
HEAR NOW
6700 Washington Avenue South
Eden Prairie, MN
55344
Website: So
the World May Hear
Service OrganizationsMany service organizations run hearing aid banks
and other hearing aid recycling programs.
Lions Clubs
The Lions Clubs nationally have collection boxes in
places such as libraries, opticians offices, and banks. The collected hearing
aids are refurbished (repaired), and provided to persons in need.
Knights of Columbus
The Knights
of Columbus also collect used hearing aids.
Sertoma
Sertoma
operates a Sertoma Hearing Aid Recycling Program(SHARP). Some Sertoma clubs have
recycling programs; if your local Sertoma club does not have such a program used
hearing aids can be sent to Sertoma International’s Sponsorship Department.
State-specific OptionsIndividual states also have programs, some run by
state or even county governments. A few examples:
- California
- Hope
for Hearing has a hearing aid bank in southern California that collects used
hearing aids.
- The House Ear Institute of Los Angeles will reportedly accept used hearing
aids.
- John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles will accept used hearing aids. The ones
that are in good shape are used for children in their program; others are sent
to manufacturers for parts re-use and credit towards the cost of refurbished
hearing aids.
- Utah - The state government of Utah has a Hearing Aid Recycling Program run
by its Hearing, Speech and Vision Services agency in Salt Lake City.
- Minnesota - Washington County, Minnesota has a "Take it Back" program with
the participation of local businesses.
Miscellaneous OptionsSome senior citizen centers also have hearing aid
recycling programs, and some hearing aid companies will also receive used
hearing aids for recycling. The Ear Research Foundation in Sarasota, Florida has
such a program in direct cooperation with hearing aid manufacturers.
Canada
Saint John Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Inc. has a
program called HARP (Hearing Aid Recycling Program) in New Brunswick. Their
website is http://www.sjdhhs.com/.
Australia
Australia has several programs to collect and refurbish
used hearing aids. Better Hearing Australia in Victoria; Self Help for Hard of
Hearing in New South Wales; the Tasmanian Deaf Society in Tasmania, and the
Princess Alexandra Hospital in Queensland are examples.
International Options for Used Hearing AidsPerhaps you prefer that your
used hearing aids go to help someone in need in another country. Again, service
organizations have programs that provide such assistance internationally.
Rotary Clubs
The Rotary International Foundation has a program,
Help the Children Hear, which often works with the Starkey Foundation to provide
used hearing aids to recipients in countries such as the Philippines, Argentina,
and Honduras. The program collects used hearing aids and also buys refurbished
hearing aids from the Starkey Foundation: Help the Children Hear
PO Box
98
Caldwell, NJ 07006
Website: http://www.helpthechildrenhear.org/
Help the Aged
Help the Aged is a London-based organization that
helps recipients in India through their partner organization, HelpAge India. The
program can be contacted at: HearingAid Appeal
Help the Aged
FREEPOST,
LON13616
London EC1B 1PS
Website: http://www.helptheaged.org
Liga International
Liga International (The Flying Doctors of Mercy)
accepts used hearing aids in any condition and provides hearing aids to children
and others in Mexico.
1464 N. Fitzgerald Hangar 2
Rialto, CA
92376
Website: http://www.ligainternational.org
Worldwide Hearing
Worldwide Hearing accepts used hearing aids and
sends them to countries in Central and South America such as Mexico. Their
address is
WorldwideHearing.org
P.O. Box 400937
North Cambridge, MA
02140
Website: http://www.WorldwideHearing.org (The website has a photo
album of the usually happy children receiving their hearing aids).
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