Safe Sharps Disposal at Home
Sharps waste cannot be thrown away with your trash or recycling. To prevent injury and illness to yourself and others, use the guidelines below for getting rid of sharps waste in your home.
Sharp Wastes include:
- Needles
- Lancets
- Syringes
- Any other sharp objects
What to do with Sharp Wastes:
- Obtain or purchase a "Sharps Box” from your pharmacy, hospital, clinic or health department.
- You may also use a hard plastic liquid laundry soap or bleach bottle with a screw on lid. If you choose to use this option, you will need to get a biohazard sticker. If this is not an option, write "Sharps" on the bottle so others know there are sharps wastes inside.
- Always keep sharps containers out of the reach of children and pets.
- When the container is 3/4 full, tightly close the lid.
- Take it to your local pharmacy, doctor's office, or to the UW Hospital and Clinics lab.
There are other sharps disposal sites in local towns and states. For this and other rules, look online at http://www.safeneedledisposal.org
Reference:
Community Options for Safe Needle Disposal (2004); United States Environmental Protection Agency; Accessed on http://www.safeneedledisposal.org/documents/med-govt.pdf
on June 18,2012.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 10/01/2012
Copyright © 10/01/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#4587
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