I suspect that they got the gear at a very special rate - maybe even donated- and part of that rate was a restriction on how the gear is disposed of.
I know that's how it works with NASA Buoyancy Lab. They get gear at a special government rate with the stipulation that it cannot be resold or even given away. The director of NBL presented at our dive club meeting and it was painful to hear how perfectly good regulators had to be destroyed when retired from inventory.