Sharps and Containers?

Question

OK...If I offended anyone, I apologize. No offense was meant.

The point I was trying to get across is that we ALL need to be more responsible when disposing of our needles. I know I'm clean...but does the garbageman who accidentally sticks himself with one of my syringes know that?

I have always been told that all sharps need to be placed into sharps containers. They are designed for this. I'm a healthcare professional. I cringe when I see a syringe in the trash. It makes me angry to see that.

Law states that all medical waste needs to be incinerated. Hospitals, doctor's offices, clinics, and even some drug stores will take back filled sharps containers for proper disposal. The red color and biohazard label on the containers makes it very clear that they contain medical waste.

While it is okay to store a syringe in some other container, they need to be placed into a sharps box for disposal.

Keeping medical waste confined properly makes society safer for all of us.

Answer 1

A hollow bore needle stick is the highest possible way to become contaminated with HIV and hepatitis B, not to mention a myriad of other illnesses. Please Please do not dispose of sharps in the garbage.
The men and women who handle our garbage have jobs, homes, families, bills to pay just like the rest of us. They do some of the dirtiest work in our society. Its a job that's tough both physically, emotionally and mentally. Why cause them more anguish?
What would we do if the labour for this duty became so expensive because of hazard pay that we could only afford to put the garbage out monthly. What if we became like some other countries that did not have this luxury? Think about it!
So what if the needle is not contaminated? The garbage is contaminated and if a sharp is in the garbage it is also dangerous no matter what the germ happens to be. This goes for broken glass, wires, pieces of sharp wood and metal too. Wrap it up. Put it in cardboard. Mark the bag as "contains sharps"; and get rid of anything hazardous in the places provided. Stop being lazy.
Think about the elders, the youths, the pets out on the streets, feeble, fragile, playful, falling.................Get Socially Conscious.

Answer 2

I see your point about throwing away needles in sharps containers but most health care businesses tell the patient to put them in a milk jog or pop bottle. if it was that easy to throw them in a sharps container, more people would do it.

Im lucky for the fact when my girl feels her pop bottle up, i take it to my work which is in a hospital pharmacy to dispose of the needles which i do every 3 months since she only puts the needle and not the syringe since most diseases are blood to bloode contact.

I see your point though, wish there could be places besides hospitals to dispose of needles properly. maybe in the near future

Answer 3

You know once I bought one of those stupid things and filled it up. I couldn't find anyone that would dispose of it for me. I called hospitals, doctors offices, clinics, and drug stores. Now I just throw in the trash.

Answer 4

I spoke with my pharmacist today and asked about LAWS that require the at home patient to dispose of sharps in any particular way.
He told me there are no such laws.

We all know what is the best ideas, but there is no LAW that mandates anything.