As the United States grappled with the initial onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lack of preparation led to a frenzied search for masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) by the states. Fast forward three years, and the scenario has drastically changed. The urgency of the pandemic has subsided, leaving states with the challenge of managing their now excessive PPE inventories, often resulting in the disposal of these once-coveted supplies.
In Ohio, the surplus was stark. The state auctioned off 393,000 gowns for a mere $2,451 and was forced to discard an additional 7.2 million gowns, as well as masks, gloves, and other materials that had surpassed their expiration dates. These supplies, originally funded by $29 million in federal money, were no longer usable.
This situation is mirrored nationwide, as states confront the realities of aging stocks and imminent deadlines for using federal COVID-19 funds. At least 15 states, stretching from Alaska to Vermont, have reported disposing of portions of their PPE reserves due to expiration and surplus, in addition to a lack of demand.
The waste is staggering: more than 18 million masks, 22 million gowns, and half a million gloves have been thrown away. Some states, such as Rhode Island and Maryland, have disposed of 829 tons of PPE and over $93 million in supplies, respectively.
The Associated Press conducted an investigation into the fate of these stockpiles, reaching out to all 50 states over several months, with responses from about half of them. One poignant image captured during the height of the pandemic shows a medical worker reacting to cheers from police officers and pedestrians outside a New York City medical center – a somber reminder of the times when PPE was in short supply and high demand.
Despite the current surplus, it’s important to note that states have distributed far more PPE than they’ve thrown away, and efforts have been made to donate what’s left. Washington state, for example, sent a significant amount of supplies to the Marshall Islands, yet still had to dispose of millions of items that expired.
The dilemma of maintaining the right balance between preparedness and excess is a complex one. Some states are maintaining or even planning to enhance their stockpiles, while others have no choice but to discard expired items. Expiration dates on PPE are set because materials can degrade over time and may not perform as expected. FEMA has valued expired supplies at zero dollars, underscoring the challenges in managing these resources.
Louis Eubank, who oversees South Carolina’s COVID-19 coordination office, expressed frustration over watching valuable resources go unused after the intense efforts to obtain them during the crisis. South Carolina itself has had to get rid of over 650,000 expired masks.
The scramble for PPE at the pandemic’s peak saw states and the federal government spending billions on essential equipment amid global bidding wars. Ohio alone distributed more than 227 million pieces of PPE, but as the urgency waned, so did the demand, particularly for items like gowns.
The current glut of PPE has led to bargain-basement prices for surplus items. Vermont, for instance, sold 105,000 boot covers for just $82.50 and safety goggles for 29 cents each.
Scott Amey from the Project on Government Oversight points out the tension between staying prepared and managing surpluses. While there were promises never to be caught unprepared again, he notes that “memories are short, budgets are tight.”
In Wisconsin, a legislative decision eliminated $17.2 million intended for maintaining a PPE warehouse, leading to the disposal of nearly 1.7 million masks and almost 1 million gowns.
Minnesota’s Health Department, while allocated funds for PPE, is still strategizing on how to manage its stockpile, with some expiring gowns expected to be discarded.
The Health Industry Distributors Association recommends that distributors maintain a 60-to-90-day supply of PPE to prevent shortages during demand spikes but indicates that not every level of the healthcare system needs such a large reserve.
Missouri’s health department, holding to a 90-day supply, has opted to keep even expired materials, banking on the possibility that the federal government will authorize their use in emergencies, as they did during the pandemic.
Nevada, struggling to distribute its aging PPE, has also had to discard some supplies. Yet, officials like Department of Administration Director Jack Robb stand by the decisions made during the crisis, which claimed nearly 7 million lives globally, hoping such a catastrophe never occurs again.,
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States government amassed a massive stockpile of pandemic response gear, such as masks, gloves, ventilators, and other personal protective equipment (PPE), to ensure a sufficient supply in the face of unprecedented demand. However, as the pandemic’s urgency has waned and the shelf life of these items expires, a significant portion of this gear is being rendered unusable and is thus facing disposal.
The disposal of these items has raised concerns about wasteful spending and environmental impact. It highlights the challenges of maintaining large stockpiles, which require careful management to balance readiness for future health crises with the cost of storage and the risk of items becoming obsolete.
Efforts to donate or repurpose the gear have been made, but the vast quantities and expiration issues limit these options. The situation has prompted discussions on improving the management of strategic stockpiles, such as better inventory rotation, investment in longer-lasting equipment, and more flexible manufacturing capabilities that can ramp up in times of need.
