Just throw needles away?

[T-dog]

Did a search on the forums, but couldn't find anything for some reason.

I'm nearing the end of what my first Sharps container can hold. I live in DC, and the government website says there are no disposal drop off areas (same for VA and MD which are close).

They are telling me something like soak my container in bleach and water, write Biohazard on it, seal it up...then just throw it in the regular garbage to be picked up.

It seems too dangerous to me. If the trashmen compact the garbage then have to go through it, won't they get stuck? Is this what other people are doing?

Would love to know how people are getting rid of their needles.

 

[Vince]

T-dog, I use an old laundry soap container and I take it to a needle exchange center, but most hospitals will also take sharp containers. A soap container is free just mark it sharp container.

 

[T-dog]

T-dog, I use an old laundry soap container and I take it to a needle exchange center, but most hospitals will also take sharp containers. A soap container is free just mark it sharp container.

That is good to know, I will call local hospitals. I thought I also read (maybe on that same site) that hospitals had to pay to dispose of that stuff by weight, so they may be hesitant to take them.

 

[Phoenix]

I use empty fabric softner containers for disposal. I only put the needles from my T shots in the container since I can remove them from the syringe. The insulin syringes I dispose of in one piece.
In North Carolina a well sealed container can be placed in the garbage.
http://www.ehow.com/how_8078897_dispose-medical-waste-north-carolina.html

 

[Gene Devine]

Some states and municipalities allow syringes to be thrown in the trash as long as the container is sealed tight.

In the State of Florida where I live it's totally legal to dispose of used needles just like that.

As noted, hospitals will take if off your hands as well.

 

[Vettester Chris]

Yeah, just take it to your local hospital as Gene mentioned.

 

[T-dog]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to the try the hospital route as suggested.

I see the trash guys throwing bags in the back of the truck and compacting it, and it just doesn't make sense to me that the Sharps container won't bust during that process and leave needles all over that can stick people. But I guess if other people are doing it and it comes to that, now I know it's possible.

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

They are telling me something like soak my container in bleach and water, write Biohazard on it, seal it up...then just throw it in the regular garbage to be picked up.

Where I live in Southern California, this would be illegal. Anything in a Sharp's container is considered "medical/hazardous waste," and you could get in big trouble for throwing it in a regular trash can.

Some doctor's offices and pharmacies will take them, but I take mine to Hazmat/Electronic waste drop off point at the Waste/recycle center. They have huge bins for medical waste only, and they'll basically take any size Sharp's container, free of charge.

 

[midlifealpha]

where I live the Fire Department takes them I was able to just find out. I had two Sharps's containter's jammed and the one from the Fire Department is so big I can empty both sharps containers and still have plenty of room.

I assume I can throw empty sharp's containers without medical waste in the trash.

 

[glintcranium]

Just to be safe, take it to a local hospital

 

[Vince Carter]

I thought the point of a Sharps container was to be able to dispose of it in a normal waste avenue, not make things HARDER. I wrap mine in tape and toss them.

 

[Re-Ride]

Trypanophobia is easier to overcome than arachnophobia.

Snip off the very tip over the toilet keeping it as short as possible. What's left is harmless. EZ to do with scissors or a plier type nail clipper. Snip what remains of the needle in to several longer bits. Destroy the syringe and toss it with plastic recycling or the trash. You do need to be 100% compliant with doing this immediately and not leave them around.

Sharps containers are important if someone is giving you injections. Otherwise they are harmful to the environment. Wasteful of the oil and energy it takes to produce them they are not biodegradable and clog landfills.

I'm looking at home sterilization techniques for personal re-use of a glass syringe.

 

[Vince Carter]

I don't get the compliant part...are there needle police that are going to come to you house or something? DNA test syringes...I don't get it. If you'd just be responsible on the personal level in disposing of syringes, there's zero reason to fear, anything.

 

[NOSUPERMODEL]

I simply throw mine away, or I put them in a coke can or something.

 

[Superman]

here they want you to put them in a plastic container, duct tape the lid shut, and write "sharps" on it and throw it away. seems weird to me but thats what they want

 

[Vettester Chris]

I don't get the compliant part...are there needle police that are going to come to you house or something? DNA test syringes...I don't get it. If you'd just be responsible on the personal level in disposing of syringes, there's zero reason to fear, anything.

Most definitely agree!!

 

[Re-Ride]

I simply throw mine away, or I put them in a coke can or something.

Not with the tip still in place I hope. Try snipping with your nail clipper. Works great. Putting in a coke can makes that can non-recyclable. Once the needle is gone stomp on the syringe or cut to prevent re-use.

here they want you to put them in a plastic container, duct tape the lid shut, and write "sharps" on it and throw it away. seems weird to me but that's what they want

Who's "they", the 3M duct tape company?

Time for all to visit their local landfill.

Consider mailing a nice box of washed de-needled syringes. Insert note: "Dear legislator, Thank you for your sensble stance on eliminating entitlements and for curbing public health spending while standing up for more corporate tax breaks instead.

Any day now Mr. Reagan's Trickle Down theory will finally take hold allowing everyone to pay their own way. In the mean time I want you to know I'm dong my part. Please re-distribute these carefully washed perfectly good syringes to our local pastors and health departments in place of the grants you have cancelled.

note: It will be most reassuring to your constituents if you will photo-opt your next flu and vaccine shots using these.

 

[tooth]

I'm in the medical profession and can get rid of them at my office, but I'm not comfortable bringing in a bunch of used syringes. I ordered a jug with a return label off amazon. It was not expensive at all, and when you fill it up you mail it back. I've had it since November and it's not even half full.

 

[Fireproof]

I'm in the medical profession and can get rid of them at my office, but I'm not comfortable bringing in a bunch of used syringes. I ordered a jug with a return label off amazon. It was not expensive at all, and when you fill it up you mail it back. I've had it since November and it's not even half full.

Link? Would love to take a look.

 

[Re-Ride]

Now that we've run the gamut on syringe disposal options from Silly to Wasteful to downright Dangerous for the umpteenth time on these pages are we ready to put the Try-Pano-Phobia beast to rest once and for all?

The hazard:
Needle stick. Not the used barrel. Not the plunger. Not ANY of the plastic bits. It's the used sharp folks not the syringe.

Why? A small amount of blood remains inside the needle after injection. The needle provides an ideal environment to sustain virus which otherwise would quickly perish outside the body. Most viruses, especially life threatening ones, can not infect simply by coming in contact with healthy intact skin.

Many common viruses like common cold virus infect through the eyes, nose or mouth. While a needle stick might also transfer a cold we obviously aren't hysterical about that. Virus capable of causing severe or incurable disease however ARE the issue at hand.

We protect ourselves and others from most communicable disease through good hygiene like covering our face when we cough or sneeze and by washing our hands.

A needle prick or re-use escorts virus past the protective dermis directly in to the blood. Epidemiological statistics tell us that we need need to be concerned about hepatitis and HIV transmitted through needles.

SNIP the very tip off a needle with a common nail clipper and the risk is greatly reduced. SNIP what remains of the shaft in to bits and the risk of transmission is virtually eliminated. One could handle those bits with essentially zero risk that they will penetrate the skin. We aren't handling them though- they will be drowned in the toilet 30 seconds after injection.

Any doubters out there please speak up.

Current safe practice says we must immediately deposit both syringe and needle in an approved sharps container. Can't argue with that. Effective most of the time. Notice the words "approved sharps container" Not Coke can. Not detergent bottle. Not "wrap in duct tape"

Can you, as a conscientiousness hypodermic user, insure that you will ONLY use "approved sharps containers" 100% of the time forever?

No, I didn't think so. You're not going to travel with sharps containers. At some point you won't have one available. Let's deal with that eventuality.

SNIP DON'T CARRY!
Public health officials are tasked with getting one message out that works. Clinics were the first places where needle stick hazard was addressed. Sharps containers were invented to protect nurses not self-injectors.

Asking nurses to snip isn't safe. They might slip. The self-injector on the other hand is not at risk from a self-inflicted prick.

To those folks who continually propose complicated expensive solutions for preventing needle sticks:
Please explain why being dependent on special order supplies and transportation to disposal sites makes any sense at all.