Lancet and Needle Disposal
| Author: Judy Kohn, RN, BSN, CDE |
| Last Updated: Friday, March 31, 2006 |
Q: "What is the proper way to dispose of lancets and syringes?"
A: To prevent injury, illness and pollution, the EPA recommends that you discard used lancets and syringes in a hard-plastic or metal container with a screw-on or tightly secured lid-either a household container, or a container specifically designed for medical waste disposal. You can read more about specific containers in the resources below. It is best to reinforce the lid with tape, label it "not for recycling," and also note: do not put sharp objects in any container you plan to recycle, and do not use glass or clear plastic containers. Furthermore, do not try to recap the lancet or syringe, and do not break the needle off the syringe, as you might accidentally injure yourself.
Your state or community environmental programs may have other requirements or suggestions for disposing your sharps. Be sure to contact them, as well as to review the resources below. In fact, the Safe Community Needle Disposal web site developed by Academy for Educational Development (AED) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the first to compile needle disposal laws and regulations in one place and provide state-by-state summaries.
Related Links
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
http://www.diabetes.org
Diabetes Self-Management
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com
Important Notice: The responses provided by the team of Diabetes Educators are based on their personal experiences and expertise as practicing diabetes healthcare professionals, and are not to be considered diabetes management advice from Abbott Laboratories. Remember that information provided by the team of Diabetes Educators is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.
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