How to dispose of or donate CPAP equipment
Below is the route for each scenario, including the recall handling for Philips DreamStation owners.
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Donating a working machine
Two U.S. nonprofits run national CPAP donation programs. The American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) runs the CPAP Assistance Program, which refurbishes donated units and distributes them to uninsured patients through partnering sleep clinics. The Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research Foundation accepts donations for both research and patient redistribution.
Both programs publish the same intake guidance: the machine should be under five years old, in working condition, and include the power cord. Masks and used hoses are generally not accepted by either program — they have to be replaced for hygiene reasons before redistribution, and the programs prefer to source new mask/hose kits directly. Donate the machine; recycle the mask and hose separately.
Some manufacturers also run authorized take-back through their durable-medical-equipment supplier network. ResMed's REMEDY program (Recycled CPAP for Sleep Apnea Victims) is the most cited; if you bought your machine from a DME supplier, ask whether they participate before shipping out of state.
The Philips DreamStation recall
In June 2021 Philips Respironics issued a recall covering millions of DreamStation and other CPAP/BiPAP units due to polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound-abatement foam degradation. If you own a DreamStation manufactured before April 2021, treat the recall path as your first step — not disposal, not donation.
Register the device at the Philips Respironics recall site, confirm whether your serial number is affected, and follow their replacement-unit-and-return instructions. Philips ships a replacement and provides a prepaid return label for the recalled unit. Donating a recalled DreamStation to a nonprofit program will not work — the programs check serial numbers and refuse recalled hardware.
Broken or older machines: HHW e-waste
A CPAP machine is a small motor + circuit board + humidifier tank — functionally identical to other small electronics from a disposal standpoint. The EPA's e-waste guidance classifies it as electronic scrap. Most county HHW facilities accept it at no charge for residents in the same lane that takes old computers and TVs. Call ahead if your machine has a built-in battery pack (some travel CPAPs do) — battery-bearing units sometimes need to go to a different intake window.
Masks, hoses, and humidifier tanks
CPAP masks and hoses are soft silicone or plastic and are not accepted in curbside recycling (the small parts jam sorters and the silicone has no commodity stream). Manufacturer guidance is to replace mask cushions every month, hoses every three months, and full mask kits every six months for hygiene; HHW small-e-waste lanes will take the old parts. Humidifier water-tanks are clear polycarbonate or polypropylene — same disposal route.
One important rule: never trash a CPAP with an internal lithium battery still inside. Travel models like the ResMed AirMini and Philips DreamStation Go pair a small lithium-ion pack with the motor; if you cannot easily remove the battery, the whole unit needs to go through HHW.
Step-by-step: donate, recall, or recycle
- 1. Check for recall first. If you have a Philips DreamStation manufactured before April 2021, register at the Philips Respironics recall page and follow the return instructions before considering donation.
- 2. Assess condition. Machine working + under 5 years old + power cord included → donation candidate. Anything else → e-waste.
- 3. Donate or recycle. Working: contact ASAA's CPAP Assistance Program or the Reggie White Foundation for shipping instructions. Not working: take to your county HHW e-waste lane.
- 4. Recycle mask and hoses separately. Use /check with your ZIP to find your county HHW intake hours for small-e-waste accessories.
Frequently asked
Can I throw an old CPAP machine in the trash?
No. A CPAP machine is e-waste under EPA guidance — small motor, circuit board, and (for travel models) often a lithium battery. Take it to your county HHW e-waste lane, free for residents in most counties.
Who accepts donated CPAP machines?
Two long-running U.S. nonprofits: the American Sleep Apnea Association's CPAP Assistance Program and the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research Foundation. Both accept machines under 5 years old, in working condition, with the power cord. Masks and used hoses are usually not accepted for hygiene reasons.
What do I do with a recalled Philips DreamStation?
Register the serial number at the Philips Respironics recall site first. If your unit is affected, Philips ships a replacement and provides a prepaid return label. Donation programs cannot accept recalled units, so file the recall claim before considering any other route.
Can I recycle the CPAP mask and hose in curbside?
No. Silicone masks and small plastic hose fittings jam curbside sorters and have no commodity stream. Most county HHW small-e-waste lanes accept them at no charge.
What about travel CPAPs with built-in batteries?
Treat them as one combined disposal. If the lithium-ion battery cannot easily be removed, the whole unit goes through HHW, not trash. The battery is the regulated component under federal Universal Waste rules (40 CFR Part 273).
How old is too old to donate a CPAP?
Both major programs use 5 years as their cutoff. Older machines often cannot pass the safety and pressure-accuracy checks the programs run before redistribution, so they go straight to e-waste recycling.
Should I clear the SD card or usage data before donating?
Yes. CPAP machines log nightly usage and pressure data. Remove the SD card before shipping or, if the card is non-removable, contact the donation program for their data-wipe procedure. Most programs ask donors to wipe usage data as part of intake.
Check your local e-waste rule first
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