Disposing Used Needles?

[Brayden]

I am going to start giving myself my shot because every time I get it done at the doctor's office, the nurse screws up somehow, like last time she gave me twice my dose. 
Anyway, the nurse told me that I just cut up the needles so they are unusable and throw them in the trash. I am extremely enviormentally cautious, so I have absolutely no desire to throw medical waste into the landfill, which is so large now that it can be seen from my house now.  I went to cvs, and the pharmacist was extremely rude and rolled her eyes when I asked if they sell sharps containers, as if I am doing illegal drugs. So I went to the pharmacy that fills my prescription, and they do sell them in multiple sizes, but the person said that I can honestly just use like a laundry detergent container with thick plastic and just throw it in the trash.  I am completely baffled how many times I have been told to just throw them away.
Needless to say, I purchased a sharps disposal by mail container, even though it costs a little more for the prepaid shipping. I do my shot every other week so it will take a while to fill up a qt size one.


I am curious, how many people have been told that it is ok to just throw them out? Personally I cringe at the thought, but that is just me.  Does anyone just throw them out? Or do you just use a sharps container and dispose of them through them?

[Nygeel]

I actually haven't thrown out any of my needles but it depends on where you live. In some places there are laws on how needles are disposed and that they need to be given to certain places to throw away and can't be thrown in the trash.


http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=7268
There's a link on there to needle disposal guidelines by state if you're in the US.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

Not sure where you live, but in the US you have to place them in a Sharps container and that to a biological waste disposal site.

[anibioman]

even though this is for new york the same principles apply for everywhere try the local hospital or pharmacy. http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0909.pdf

[Brayden]

I live in Ohio. so that's what I thought.  Thanks for your input!

[Nygeel]

I live in Ohio. so that's what I thought.  Thanks for your input!

What was written for Ohio (it also varies a bit based on town or county):
Sharps should be packaged to minimize opportunity for contact injury. Needles and syringes should be discarded intact after use.
Needles should never be bent, broken, or manipulated by hand.
Use a rigid, leak-proof, puncture resistant container with a tight fitting lid. If the purchase of a medical grade sharps container is too costly, there are various alternatives for safe disposal. Common household containers that match this description include detergent bottles, bleach bottles, two liter bottles, plastic juice containers and coffee cans (if the lid is securely taped to the can).
Glass containers are not recommended for use as sharps containers because the glass may break and spill the contents. Plastic milk jugs make poor sharps containers because the plastic used in these containers is thin and sharps easily poke through.
In addition, milk jugs do not always have a tight fitting lid.
Label any container used to dispose of sharps with the word "SHARPS" on all sides of the container in big block letters. Labeling the container will convey the potential hazard inside to the solid waste worker or recycling facility.
What are some other disposal alternatives for sharps?
Inquire with the company or pharmacy where you purchase your medical supplies regarding disposal alternatives. Some have programs to accept sharps containers, free or for a nominal fee, which are then treated and disposed.

• Your local health department may also be aware of available disposal alternatives.
  

• Also, home users may have the sharps picked-up by a commercial service.
  

• Some communities offer special pickup on designated days of the month.
  

• Landfills may accept sharps containers directly at the landfill in an effort to reduce the number of sharps in the solid waste and the risk to the sanitation worker.
  

• Some hospitals will take sharp wastes generated by an individual for purposes of their own treatment or care.

• For more information about disposal options for home sharps, please contact your local health department, Ohio EPA district office, or Ohio EPA's Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management at (614) 644-2621.
  Ohio EPA District Offices:
  Northeast District Office:
  (330) 425-9171
  Northwest District Office:
  (419) 352-8461
  Central District Office:
  (614) 728-3778
  Southeast District Office:
  (740) 385-8501
  Southwest District Office:
  (513) 285-6357

[aleon515]

If you live somewhere that has needle exchange programs... I don't know how common this is in the US. For some reason, this is the case in New Mexico. (Yet another way NM surprises me sometimes.)


--Jay Jay

[Oriah]

some people sterilize them with bleach or alcohol and reuse them

[wheat thins are delicious]

some people sterilize them with bleach or alcohol and reuse them

Why bother with that when you can get a new clean needle for very cheap.  Also the more you use a needle the duller the tip becomes.

[Oriah]

I wasn't recommending it.....just saying.


the idea of being freaked out by putting medical waste into the landfill seems sort of silly though.


Every time you use the toilet, you're flushing medical waste into the water supply.


in fact, the hormones and their metabolites taken by many people on here get into the drinking water in cities and into streams and lakes in rural areas......

[wheat thins are delicious]

Well when you flush it goes into the sewage system, where it's broken down by bacteria, and comes out not the same.  If you aren't on the sewage network and have a septic tank it's the same thing basically, bacteria breaks it down.  There are also sewage treatment plants.  It's not like you are just flushing turds right into a tank of drinking water.


I mean yeah it happens but why not try to not contribute to it happening. 

[Oriah]

Well when you flush it goes into the sewage system, where it's broken down by bacteria, and comes out not the same.  If you aren't on the sewage network and have a septic tank it's the same thing basically, bacteria breaks it down.  There are also sewage treatment plants.  It's not like you are just flushing turds right into a tank of drinking water.


I mean yeah it happens but why not try to not contribute to it happening.

urine and feces get broken down......but not drugs....there are cholesterol drugs, hormones, caffiene, nicotine, and a myriad of other drugs in our water.....treatment plants sanitize water but don't remove the undigested chemicals

[tvc15]

I mean yeah it happens but why not try to not contribute to it happening.

Yep.
I wouldn't throw needles right into the trash even if they were in an impenetrable container. No matter what the laws in my state were. I'd be worried about my used needles pricking someone. I put them into an empty laundry soap container like someone recommended to you. When it's filled up a hospital or fire dept. will take it off my hands and properly dispose of it. Sucks that the pharmacist gave you an attitude, she should know better, working with medicine... just say you're diabetic... when I went into a pharmacy and asked about sharps containers they just assumed I was diabetic. I ended up not buying one because they were kind of expensive for their function.

[wheat thins are delicious]

I do my shot every other week so it will take a while to fill up a qt size one.

Same here.  I do my shot every other week, and I've got the quart size.  It's about 3/4ths full.  I imagine I will fill it up by sometime next year, though if you shake it a little things will settle more closely in there making more room.

[Darrin Scott]

I was told by my pharmacy to take it to the fire dept to dispose of them. I use a little sharps container I got at Wallgreens.