What You Can Do With Your Old Breast Pump?

If you’re a mom who’s just had a baby, chances are you have an old breast pump collecting dust in the closet somewhere. Maybe it’s time to get rid of it for good, or maybe you’re curious about what else you can do with it besides throw it out.

Breast pumps are a fantastic tool for mothers who need to express milk. But what do you do when you’re done with your pump? There are plenty of ways to recycle and reuse your breast pump, even if you don’t plan on having any more babies. Here are some great ideas.

What should I do with my old breast pump?

1) Donate it!

You can donate your breast pump to a local women’s shelter or hospital that uses them for women who can’t afford them. Several organizations will accept and distribute donations if you live in the United States. You can also find local organizations that accept donations through social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.

2) Sell it!

If you’re done with breastfeeding, you can sell your pump. This is a great way to recoup some of the money spent on purchasing and using the product for the past few months or years. There are a few different ways you can sell your breast pump. The first option is to donate it to a local women’s shelter or hospital and let them sell it for you. They will then use the proceeds from the sale to help other mothers who need breast pumps but cannot afford them.

Another option if you have a manual pump or electric pump that’s still in good condition, sell it on sites like eBay, Craigslist, and Amazon. You can get even more than half of what you paid for it originally! Don’t forget to include the parts that might be missing! But before you do any of this, clean out its parts first.

3) Recycle it!

If you don’t think anyone would want your old pump, you can recycle it instead! Most major cities offer a recycling program for electronics and appliances, so check into this option if you’re unsure where to take your old device.

•  Recycle responsibly!

While recycling is good for the environment, many cities have restrictions on what kinds of materials can be accepted for recycling—and breast pumps aren’t always among them! Check with your city before throwing yours away because its recyclers do not accept them. Some cities have special programs or drop-off locations specifically for breast pumps, and your local recycling center may be able to help you find them.

Other ideas for old breast pumps

If you are looking for other ideas, here are some.

• If you plan on having another baby, keep the pump around and use it as a spare. You never know when a baby will come along unexpectedly, and you’ll need to pump milk for them.
• Save it as a keepsake for your child or other family members.
• Use it as a small vase for flowers or plants.
• Keep it as a backup for emergencies if your current pump breaks down.
• Give it away to someone who could use one (if it’s still working) or benefit from a used one (if yours is broken).
• If there’s anything left of the parts that might be useful, like tubing or bottoms, consider donating them to a local women’s shelter so they can use them in their childcare program.

• See also: Best Breast Pumps.