How to Safely Dispose of Used Syringes

Disposing of used syringes improperly can lead to accidental needle sticks and spread of disease. Proper disposal is crucial for community health and safety. This guide covers recommended practices for safe syringe disposal.

Find Your Local Syringe Disposal Options

The first step is identifying legal and accessible syringe disposal options in your area. There are several recommended methods:

• Syringe exchange programs: Many cities have nonprofit organizations that let you drop off used syringes anonymously and without cost. They may also provide you with a sharps container. Look up "[your city] syringe exchange" online to find one near you.

• Pharmacy disposal programs: Many pharmacies have kiosks for dropping off used sharps containers. Some provide free sharps containers as well. Call or visit pharmacies in your neighborhood to ask about their policies.

• Household hazardous waste facilities: County and city hazardous waste collection sites often accept used syringes. Search "[your city or county] household hazardous waste" to find one near you.

• Doctor's offices: Some doctor's offices, hospitals, and clinics accept patient syringe waste. Ask your doctor if they offer this service.

If no disposal options are accessible to you, lobby local government and health departments to provide syringe disposal resources in your community. Improper disposal puts everyone at risk.

Use a Sharps Container

To safely contain used syringes before disposal:

• Use an FDA-cleared sharps container made of sturdy puncture-proof plastic. Do not use glass or plastic bottles or aluminum cans.

• Make sure the container has a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid that does not allow sharps to come out.

• Keep the container upright during use so syringes don't spill out when opened.

• Do not overfill the container. When it reaches the "full" line, dispose of it properly.

• Carefully place each used syringe in the container needle-first to avoid accidental sticks.

• Keep the container out of reach of children and pets.

You can purchase sharps containers from pharmacies or medical supply stores. Ask doctors for a free one if needed.

Prepare Syringes for Disposal

To make syringe disposal safer:

• Do not recap needles. You may prick yourself. Immediately dispose in sharps container after use.

• If giving an injection, engage safety device if the syringe has one, to cover the needle.

• For syringes without safety devices, use tongs or pliers to grasp the barrel and slide the needle off into the sharps container.

• Remove any identifying patient information on the syringe barrel with a permanent marker. This helps protect confidentiality.

• Disinfect any reusable syringe parts, like insulin pens, before disposal. Follow manufacturer cleaning instructions.

Proper preparation minimizes the risk of sticks, reuse, and identifiable waste.

Dispose at Designated Sites

To complete disposal:

• When your sharps container is full, seal the lid shut as instructed. Do not try to compact or reopen it.

• Take sharps containers only to approved syringe disposal locations, such as those discussed earlier. Do not put in curbside trash.

• Follow all biohazard bagging and labeling rules specified by the disposal site. This helps handlers identify hazardous materials.

• Hand your sealed sharps container directly to an employee at the disposal site. Do not leave unattended.

• If using a mail-back disposal kit, follow all packaging and shipping requirements carefully to avoid spills.

• Get a new sharps container for future use. Do not reuse old ones.

Responsible disposal protects waste handlers and our communities. Never throw loose syringes in public trash or recycling. Follow these steps and use local syringe disposal programs whenever possible.