Introduction
In this blog, we’ll take a look at the safe and proper disposal of medical needles, including who this may apply to, why it’s important, where to dispose of them, and taking your full sharps bin to your community pharmacy.
Who might need to dispose of needles?
Many people in the UK take medications that require administration with a needle, such as people with diabetes who need to inject insulin or people who are taking weight loss medications which are self-administered via injection pens.
If you are administering medication with a needle, it’s important to use a fresh, new needle each time, and to carefully and properly dispose of the used needle immediately.
Why is it important to dispose of needles properly?
Medical needles should be disposed of properly because they carry a risk of injury to others, as well as having the potential to spread diseases.
You should never dispose of needles in your household rubbish, as they can cause cuts and punctures through a rubbish bag and potentially harm anyone who is handling the rubbish. If someone’s skin is broken by a used needle, they can be infected by bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms which can cause a variety of diseases and complications, including hepatitis and HIV.
Where is the best place to dispose of needles?
You should dispose of your used needles in a sharps bin. A sharps bin is a specially designed container for the safe storage of used needles. They are usually hard-sided and leak-proof, and are typically made of plastic.
If you are prescribed medication which requires injection, you will also likely be prescribed a sharps bin alongside the medication. You can also purchase one online from a reputable pharmacy. At Pharmacy Prime, we stock a couple of options, such as a 1L bin and a larger 5L bin.
It’s important that sharps bins are correctly assembled with a secure lid, and labelled appropriately. There should be a clearly marked line which is the “fill line,” above which the sharps bin should not be filled.
Can I take a full sharps bin to a pharmacy?
Be sure to use your sharps bin properly and not to overfill it. You should also ensure that it is kept out of reach of children and pets.
When your sharps bin is full, seal it. Then, you can take it to a community pharmacy, where it will be safely stored until a waste disposal company comes to collect it. If you aren’t sure where the nearest pharmacy to you is, you can use the search function on the NHS website by entering your town, city, or post code.
You can also use your local council’s clinical waste collection service, if one is available. There may be a charge for this service. To find out if your local council offers this, you can use the search function here by entering your postcode.
You should not reuse a sharps bin, so it’s important to have a new one on hand when your existing sharps bin is nearing capacity.
What about the syringe, pen, or other attachments to the needle?
Whatever is attached to the needle (e.g. a syringe, a weight loss medication pen, etc.) should also be disposed of in your sharps bin after use and when empty. These items should be treated as medical waste and should never be disposed of in your household rubbish.
In the case of weight loss medications, some of these come with pens that are used multiple times. It is still important in these instances to remove the used pen immediately and to dispose of it properly in your sharps pin. When the pen is out of medication, you can dispose of it in the same way, unless your medication supplier says otherwise–some of them may send you a separate container to recycle your used medication pens.
In summary
Medical needles should never be disposed of in your household rubbish, as they carry a risk of wounds and contamination. You should always dispose of them immediately in a proper sharps bin, following directions to not overfill your sharps bin and to store it securely. When your sharps bin is full, you can take it to most community pharmacies for proper disposal, or you may be able to contact your local council’s clinical waste collection service. You should also take care to properly dispose of anything attached to the needle, e.g. a syringe or weight loss medication pen.