Needle Disposal

[jasc]

What do you guys in the US do with your used pins?
Can you bring them to a dropoff or is there risk of getting in trouble that way? I've got prob almost 200 pins n would like to expose of them responsibly.

[DanB]

do you have then in a sinbin? like this?

if so then just bring it your local needle exchange or even doctor surgery and they will take it friom you, if you dont have it in one of the containers, then go to needle exchange and get one, fill it then bring it back to them, nowhere will take them unless they in one of these containers

and no you cant get in any trouble, they wont even question you

[alexISthrowed]

I save my old protein jugs and put them in there. I just throw them away in random dumpsters.

[DanB]

well yeah haha

was just trying to give him a nice way to do it lol

[Bonaparte]

Holidays are a great time to get rid of old needles. Fortunately, Easter is only a week away, and used needles make fantastic Easter basket stuffers (as opposed to that tinsel crap)

But seriously, unless you know of a needle disposal place, most of us just put them in an empty protein jug, tape it shut, and throw it out in a dumpster (but I would recommend buying a sharps box, especially if you have any blood-borne diseases).

[The Bear 79]

I don't understand all this "proper needle disposal" crap. I put the cap back on the sharp & throw it in the garbage with all the other trash, seems "proper" enough to me. Just because hospitals have bio hazard boxes for used pins doesn't mean we need to, just throw em away.............no big deal. Unless of coarse you have a transmittable disease of some sort, then I say follow "proper disposal protocol".

[Bonaparte]

I don't understand all this "proper needle disposal" crap. I put the cap back on the sharp & throw it in the garbage with all the other trash, seems "proper" enough to me. Just because hospitals have bio hazard boxes for used pins doesn't mean we need to, just throw em away.............no big deal. Unless of coarse you have a transmittable disease of some sort, then I say follow "proper disposal protocol".

To add to this: the major reason why sealed "sharps" containers are used by the medical community is because the caps are not replaced before disposal. The reason for this is because a nurse (or whoever) runs the risk of pricking their own finger with a patient's dirty needle when putting the cap on, so they just throw the needle in the sharps container uncapped. But if it's your own used needle, there is no issue with just putting the cap back on.

[cebby1985]

I usually unscrew the needle from the syringe, pull out the plunger and stick em un the dish washer so i can use them again. you try to save where you can these days right?

[cebby1985]

lol

[lovbyts]

I don't understand all this "proper needle disposal" crap. I put the cap back on the sharp & throw it in the garbage with all the other trash, seems "proper" enough to me. Just because hospitals have bio hazard boxes for used pins doesn't mean we need to, just throw em away.............no big deal. Unless of coarse you have a transmittable disease of some sort, then I say follow "proper disposal protocol".

Exactly. Most hospitals or doctors office wont take them and the bins are designed to just be tossed. You can even use any type of plastic bottle just cap it afterward. Most drug stores also carry a needle clipper you cut the needle off then toss the syringe.

[1DieselBoy]

cebby1985,
I was told by a doctor and a lab nurse, that using alcohol or anything less that a steriling unit ( like they use to sterilize reusable surgey tools ( scapels and such ),does not properly clean the syringe or plunger
Some germs or impurities will only spread to other things in the washer. I don't know if this is true or not, it's just what I have been told by two independant sources.

[lovbyts]

cebby1985,
I was told by a doctor and a lab nurse, that using alcohol or anything less that a steriling unit ( like they use to sterilize reusable surgey tools ( scapels and such ),does not properly clean the syringe or plunger
Some germs or impurities will only spread to other things in the washer. I don't know if this is true or not, it's just what I have been told by two independant sources.

This is why we need to be careful around here. That was his attempt a humor and he failed. No one does what he suggested and he did not mean for you to take it seriously.

[cebby1985]

Yea man, i was joking thats why i did the little smiley and lol. Just dispose of them after one use as the risk is not worth it. Important w bear on this on tho, i just put them in the trash

[The Titan99]

I drive by the local methadone clinic and chuck them out the window in a paper sack.

[AD]

there is just that slight risk that rubbish disposal workers may get pricked even if the needle was initially capped before you dump it. small risk, but still present. it is a little more considerate to use the old empty protein tub method. to be extra safe, pour bleach into the filled tub before you seal and dump it.