arthritissuffering.com

The disposal of "sharps" at home is a health concern for many people, including those who regularly treat their Diabetes at home with syringes or needles. Safely disposing of sharps including needles, syringes and blood-testing lancets is important as it protects waste management and treatment workers against injury or possibly disease. Safe disposal of syringes is also important as it prevents the re-use of syringes by others, which could result in the transmission of HIV or Hepatitis B or C.

Regulations and guidelines on household sharps disposal varies by state. In some states, all nursing homes and hospitals must accept sharps from households. In others, special collection sites or arrangements might need to be made for safe disposal.

Health care providers and pharmacies usually can provide information on safe household sharp disposal. You could also contact your local trash collector or your city or town’s public works department for information. Local health departments can also provide instructions on how to collect and properly dispose of household sharps.

Although you may use a special sharps container to safely collect and dispose of household sharps, this may not be necessary. In many locations, any puncture-resistant plastic container that has a screw down top that fits securely may be appropriate. This could include laundry detergent, bleach or even soda bottles. Always keep the lid of the container you use securely fastened after use and out of the reach of children or pets.

If you use a household container to hold and dispose of sharps, be sure to clearly label it. Use a waterproof marker to label the container "Contains Sharps," or write on masking tape applied to the container.

In the past, many people had few options when it came to disposing of household sharps. They often ended up simply being dumped in the household trash. Today there are safer options available for the responsible disposal of these potentially unsafe and harmful items.