December 21, 2023- As the brunt of the global pandemic has ended in U.S. hospitals, numerous states have been selling and tossing away trash due to expiration and overwhelmed stockpiles, according to the Associated Press. During the pandemic, many states were unprepared for the influx of patients, and to meet demand, bought millions of dollars worth of PPE such as medical gowns, masks, gloves, and more.
The PPE items are aging, and states must decide how much to invest in warehouses and stockpile supplies. Many states, such as Ohio, have resorted to auctioning off 393,000 gowns for almost $2,000 and threw away 7.2 million, according to AP.
The Associated Press found this issue to be widespread, with at least 15 states from Alaska to Vermont tossing PPE items due to expiration, surpluses, and lack of willing takers.