Preparation:
Store used sharps in a sharps container from a mail-back program or in an empty laundry detergent bottle with a screw on lid. Rinse, dry, and label the laundry detergent bottle “Household Sharps.” Do not store used sharps in glass bottles, aluminum cans, milk jugs, or coffee cans. Do not put loose needles, lancets, or syringes in the garbage. Do not flush sharps down the toilet or put them down the drain. Never put sharps or a sharps container in the recycling bin.
Other Disposal Options:
Your healthcare provider may offer a collection program for sharps used by patients at home.
Other disposal options include mail-back programs, home sharps needle-destruction devices, and special preparation and disposal in the garbage.
Select "Safe Disposal Options for Needles and Syringes" from the Household Hazardous Waste section on the Learning Resources: Fact Sheets Opens a New Window. page on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website.