Needle Disposal Safety

Every year, 8 million people across the country use more than 3 billion needles, syringes, and lancets - also called sharps - to manage medical conditions . People use sharps at home to treat allergies, cancer, hepatitis, infertility, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and many other conditions.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF SHARPS?

Some sharp users throw their used needles in the trash or flush them down the toilet. When left loose among other waste used sharps can hurt sanitation workers during collection. Children, adults, and even pets are also at risk of needle-stick injuries when sharps are disposed of improperly, particularly when they end up in places like playgrounds, parks and parking lots.

DON'T

Don't throw loose needles in the garbage

Don't flush used needles down the toilet

Don't put needles in recycling containers

DO

Use one of the recommended disposal methods such as:

Place all needles and syringes in puncture proof plastic containers with screw-on lids ( rigid detergent bottles and similar type containers are good).

Put used needles or syringes, point first, into the container, then close the container securely . Be sure to keep the top on the container. Don't open it unless you are discarding needles .

Store the container out of the reach of children.

Make a label that says: “DO NOT RECYCLE: HOUSEHOLD SHARPS.” Tape the label to the container and dispose of the container in the household trash.

For more information call 977-4399

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