Protect Yourself, Protect Others

Safe Options for Home Needle Disposal

Used needles, syringes, and lancets are dangerous because they can injure people and spread diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and syphilis. When improperly disposed of in the trash or flushed down the toilet, they can harm and infect trash collectors and wastewater operators. Since all used needles and syringes may carry disease, anyone incurring a needle stick injury must undergo expensive medical testing and treatment in addition to worrying about his/her health. If you use a needle, syringe, or lancet, you can properly dispose of it in a number of ways:

1. Mail-back Service
These are services to which you subscribe. You fill the needle container with used needles and mail it back in the package provided by the company. The cost of this service depends on the size of the container you select.

2. Home Needle Destruction Devices
Several manufacturers offer products that allow you to burn, melt, or cut off needles at home.

3. Drop off Collection Sites
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste is presently developing a plan that will allow Alameda residents to safely dispose of medical sharps in approved containers at one of their three drop-off sites. For more information, call (800) 606-6606. Local doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies may also accept medical sharps for disposal.

To find out more about proper disposal of medical sharps, visit the EPA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/other/medical/sharps.htm or contact the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal at (800) 643-1643 or www.safeneedledisposal.org