[Catch]

Why do I go through the hassle of sharps containers, saving the boxes, tracking manifests, when none of the numerous diabetics I know do the same? Am I the only one following the rules here, or is it something else?

I know, this is a minor matter. I guess I'm curious.

[Erin524]

You're supposed to save the boxes they come in?


I still have yet to figure out how and where to dispose of the Sharps containers. No idea who to give them to. I've only gone thru three or four of them and am keeping the full ones on top of the freezer in the store room. I do have one ginormous Sharps container that I've only tossed a few syringes into. It's such a huge container that it wont fit on my countertop by the sink. It also lives in the storeroom with the other Sharps. It's the one I use if the Sharps container that I keep in my bathroom gets full.

Last time I got a shipment, it was from a new pharmacy. They sent me this flimsy little plastic box with a plastic lid. I cant get the lid to stay on...and that thing is supposed to be a Sharps container?? I like the ones the look like red milk bottles.

[wkikta]

The local disposal rules are different everywhere. Here, heavy plastic (not milk or water) container, tape lid on and put in regular trash. There is no reason to try and track anything, and you don't need to save the boxes unless you need a label for travel.

[Dejibo]

I use the BD safe clip. you stick the needle in the side, and snap it shut. it snaps off the needle into the clipper. Its about the size of a mans thumb. it holds a lot of needles. I do copaoxone and use one a year. Thats 365, and its still not full.

I recycle my glass syringe into the recycle bucket, and ta da. no more red bucket. Once a year I take my thumb bucket, and drop it into the MDs bucket. (i ask first)

[april1848]

My pharmacist actually recommended using an old coffee can, with a cut on top. I haven't done this yet, still using the Sharps containers.

You can dispose of the Sharps containers at most fire stations for free. I admit though, I have two old ones sitting in my storage room.

[doydie]

When I had a home health nurse one time she said that using an old heavy plastic laundry dtergent bottle was fine.

[patientx]

I found a hospital near me that takes used syringes as part of their program for diabetics. I feel much better about taking the syringes there than throwing them in the trash.

The nurse at the clinic that trained me on Copaxone told me to throw the needles in a heavy plastic container, duct tape the top, and throw it in the trash. I was was incredulous that the hospital would recommend this. She said that's what they tell people, otherwise they would have too many needles to dispose of.

[Dejibo]

Most any pharmacy is happy to take your meds and dispose of them without them ending up in your local water supply from flushing it or washing it down the sink. Whether pills, shots, or creams, its better to let the pros do it. We have alot of meds in our water supply now, I am glad you are being safe.

[patientx]

Originally Posted by Dejibo

Most any pharmacy is happy to take your meds and dispose of them without them ending up in your local water supply from flushing it or washing it down the sink. Whether pills, shots, or creams, its better to let the pros do it. We have alot of meds in our water supply now, I am glad you are being safe.

You know, I used to think the same thing. When I had a cabinet full of expired meds (antibiotics, painkillers, etc)., I went around to all the pharmacies around me asking if they would take and dispose of them. None would. I even went to the local hospital. They didn't want anything to do with them. I ended up incinerating them myself.

There needs to be a better system of disposing of expired meds.