The mission of the Wheelchair Recycling Program is to collect, refurbish, and redistribute used wheelchairs, hospital beds and other medical equipment to citizens of all ages, who have either permanent or temporary mobility impairments and, for a variety of reasons, have neither the insurance nor funds to obtain the equipment they need.

Too often, persons with disabilities, of all ages, are unable to participate to their fullest potential in their communities due to equipment limitations. For some, insurance does not cover the necessary equipment. For others, they need backups in case their equipment needs repair or is not suited to every need. Or, they remain on waiting lists for months or years, before they can get assistance through governmental programs.

The Wheelchair Recycling Program (WRP) was established to be the safety net under the safety net for those who need assistance with mobility limitations.

The Wheelchair Recycling Program (WRP) was established in 1988 in Madison, Wisconsin, as an all-volunteer effort to send used medical equipment overseas. It soon became apparent that there were serious needs here in Wisconsin, and WRP began to focus on providing services locally. WRP opened an office in Milwaukee in 2001, and now offers its services statewide with the help of local Independent Living Centers spread across the state. In 2005, WRP provided nearly 1,100 mobility and medical items at low cost to Wisconsin residents.