Beyond the Bin: UCSF Health and MedCycle Network Turn Surplus Into Care

Every day in the San Francisco Bay Area, clinics work miracles with too few supplies, while just across town, hospitals are forced to part with thousands of pounds of high-quality medical items due to hospital regulations—most of it perfectly good, but headed for landfill. It’s a gap that shouldn’t exist. But now, thanks to a powerful partnership between UCSF Health and MedCycle Network, that story is changing—box by box, delivery by delivery.

Where Innovation Meets Impact

It all started at UCSF’s Mission Bay campus, where the first boxes were packed and labeled late last year. What used to be an overlooked corner of surplus is now the launching pad for hope. Instead of spending hours sorting and hauling, UCSF teams partner with MedCycle Network, who arrive right at the loading dock—ready to palletize, shrink-wrap, and whisk away surplus medical supplies. In this model, every glove, every bandage, every box finds a new home with a frontline provider who needs it most. What UCSF donates, MedCycle Network then matches to local clinics to the respective supplies needed.

This is more than just a logistics solution. Each month, those pickups and deliveries mean UCSF’s staff can focus on patient care, not waste streams, knowing that their surplus is supporting local health heroes. With real-time impact reporting and tailored deliveries, the process keeps getting smarter and more responsive.

Sustainability With Heart

UCSF Health has long led the way on climate action and sustainability, committing to run on 100% carbon-free electricity, eliminating single-use plastics, and reaching zero-waste goals. But the partnership with MedCycle Network puts those values into motion, showing what’s possible when sustainability meets healthcare equity. Surplus supplies aren’t just counted in pounds saved from landfill — they’re measured in patients helped, clinics supported, and communities made healthier.

There’s a hidden benefit, too. Seeing supplies go to use instead of waste lifts morale across the UCSF Health system. The team knows they’re not just saving money or reporting better numbers—they’re making a difference in real lives. And every avoided disposal fee means more resources for care.

The People Behind the Progress

At the heart of this partnership is Isabel Navarrete, UCSF Health’s passionate Sustainability Analyst. Isabel’s vision goes far beyond spreadsheets—she’s the driving force behind waste diversion, blue wrap recycling, and so many of the campus’s most impactful environmental initiatives. Her leadership helps UCSF stay true to its mission, proving that operational changes can create big waves of impact. She’s also co-chair of the UC Health Zero-Waste Working Group and a featured speaker at this summer’s Social Impact Forum, where she shared lessons learned and resources.

“This partnership allows us to make progress towards our waste diversion goals while also leaving a positive impact in our local community.” Isabel Navarrete, UCSF Health, Sustainability Analyst

A Smarter Supply Loop, Built for the Future

What makes this collaboration different is its focus on relationships. Every item UCSF donates is scanned, cataloged, and placed on a secure portal, where trusted clinics can select exactly what they need. There’s no guesswork, no “blind” shipments—just direct, community-centered support, backed up by regular impact reports. That’s how UCSF and MedCycle Network ensure every pound of supplies goes where it’s needed most, and every story of care gets counted.

This kind of model is already inspiring change across California, setting the stage for system-wide sustainability and access—right in line with UC Health’s climate pledges and MedCycle Network’s vision of a truly transparent, responsive supply chain.

Your Invitation to Join the Cycle

With every delivery, UCSF Health and MedCycle Network prove that surplus is not waste—it’s a resource for healing, a spark for change. We believe that a healthier, more sustainable San Francisco Bay Area is within reach, and we’re building it together, one shipment at a time.

Are you a hospital or clinic looking to make a difference? A donor ready to power the next delivery? Or maybe you just believe in a future where care and climate go hand in hand? We invite you to join us—reach out, support the mission, and review the resources provided at a recent Social Impact Forum about strengthening local health ecosystems.

Let’s keep building this story—together.