How do you guys get rid of your used needles? 

Sharps container... you can get em for free or very cheap at any pharmacy.

Quote from: Gifted on November 18, 2011, 07:31:53 PM
Sharps container... you can get em for free or very cheap at any pharmacy.

Then what do you do with the sharps container? I've been hording  my needles in a laundry detergent container.

Yeah than what?? I don't want a ton of used needles hanging out at my house. My son doesn't use my bathroom but I don't want him in there one day and be messing around with them.

I keep it on a high shelf in my room where none of my younger siblings (all under 10) can get it. When it's full I think you just throw it out with the rest of the garbage since the plastic it's made from is puncture-resistant.

When I worked in the pharmacy we had a needle disposal service. People would bring them in their sharps containers and we would dispose of them according to federal regulations. I would say check with your local pharmacy, hospital or doctor's offices. They have access to matierals and services that most folks do not.

I never thought about what to do with old needles. I cant seem to pick the right key words to successfully google this. Anyone know what to do in Philly and Jersey?

Try some of these search terms, along with the name of your state:
Sharps disposal
Disposal of sharps
Needle disposal
Syringe disposal

Or try your city's/county's waste management site.

When I was at my local pharmacy, I asked where to take my sharps containers, and the pharmacist gave me a printed list of facilities that accept sharps. My GP also gave me a flier put out by county services, but I misplaced the flier. Duh.

My sister works in a veterinary clinic,
And she says that one of the doctors there puts their needles into a milkjug or a two liter when she doesn't have room in her bio-hazard bucket thingy.
When it's full, she tapes it up with duck-tape all around the top and throws it away like that.
So that's how I get rid of mine *Nod*

Yeah I tired the google search and found a bunch of ads for companies. I'll try the pharmacy and waste management I didn't think of those ones. Thanks

Quote from: Arch on November 18, 2011, 08:57:08 PM
Try some of these search terms, along with the name of your state:
Sharps disposal
Disposal of sharps
Needle disposal
Syringe disposal

Or try your city's/county's waste management site.

When I was at my local pharmacy, I asked where to take my sharps containers, and the pharmacist gave me a printed list of facilities that accept sharps. My GP also gave me a flier put out by county services, but I misplaced the flier. Duh.

Thanks.

Found this, just click your state.
http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=62758

I used to work in a cancer center where we had crazy-specific rules about such things. Biohazard sharps went of course into a sharps bin, but then they went into a different waste stream from normal trash or the chemical hazard trash.

That doesn't help though, does it?

Here's info where I live. Your locality may be similar.

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=582

Thanks Sharky. That site says no state laws but check local ones.    Haha. I just want to be sure to get rid of them in a safe way. I'll go ask Walgreens in the morning I guess.

Quote from: Nygeel on November 18, 2011, 07:41:05 PM
Then what do you do with the sharps container? I've been hording  my needles in a laundry detergent container.

I've been doing that for almost 2 years now   I was told I can take them to the local health department, but I know people there.  It's slightly embarrassing bringing in a collection of used needles.  I must have about 50 now (if I did the math correctly).

Good link, by the way, Sharky.  I found this one as well:

http://www.safeneedledisposal.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=57

Quote from: Sharky on November 18, 2011, 09:05:31 PM
Thanks.

Found this, just click your state.
http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=62758

Even better!

Quote from: Adio on November 18, 2011, 10:44:34 PM
I've been doing that for almost 2 years now   I was told I can take them to the local health department, but I know people there.  It's slightly embarrassing bringing in a collection of used needles.  I must have about 50 now (if I did the math correctly).

Just come up with a lie for why you have all those needles.  There are lots of reasons lots of people use needles.  It doesn't have to be for yourself.  My grandpa has to give himself shots of some kind of medication, idk what because I never asked.  but like that, just pretend you are disposing of them for someone else.

This isn't going to help anyone who has more than a few, but I tend to live in urban/slummy areas, and I occasionally find needles in inappropriate places. I take them to a hospital or university campus, whichever is closer. They usually have sharps disposal boxes in the bathrooms.