Disposing of Medical Sharps

The Coalition has identified several types of safe disposal programs for self-injectors. Instead of placing sharps in the trash, self-injectors are encouraged to use any of these alternative disposal methods:

• Drop Box or Supervised Collection Sites: Sharps users can take their sharps containers filled with used needles to appropriate collection sites: doctors' offices, hospitals, pharmacies, health departments, or fire stations. Services are free or have a nominal fee. Check with your pharmacist or another healthcare provider for availability in your area.

• Mail-back Programs: Sharps users place their used sharps in special containers and return the container by mail to a collection site for proper disposal. This service usually requires a fee. Fees vary depending on the size of the container. Check with your health care provider, pharmacist, or yellow pages, or search the Internet using the keywords "sharps mail back."

• Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP): Sharps users can safely exchange used needles for new needles. Contact the North American Syringe Exchange Network at 253-272-4857 or online at www.nasen.org.

• At-home Needle Destruction Devices: Several manufacturers offer products that allow you to destroy used needles at home. These devices sever, burn, or melt the needle rendering it safe for disposal. Check with your pharmacist or search the internet using the keywords "sharps disposal devices." The prices of these devices vary according to product type and manufacturer.

For More Information:

• Call your local solid waste department or public health department to determine the correct disposal method for your area.

• Ask your healthcare provider or local pharmacist if they offer disposal or if there safe disposal programs in the area.

• Contact the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal at 1-800-643-1643. Ask about the availability of safe disposal programs in your area or for information on setting up a community disposal program. Visit EPA Medical. This website also has a list of all state health and solid waste/sanitation department contacts.

• Visit the Safe Community Needle Disposal website. This easy-to-use website is designed for anyone interested in safe needle disposal. It provides state-by-state and territory-by-territory summaries of the laws and regulations affecting the labeling, transportation, and disposal of used needles and other sharps in the community.

FDA Guidelines on Proper Methods of Disposing of Unused Medicine

For guidelines on proper methods of disposing of unused medicines, consult the following FDA link: Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines

Other useful resources:

• The FDA's web page on the Disposal of Unused Medications

• The FDA's web page on the Safe Disposal of Medicines

As a general rule of thumb, do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet or drain unless the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs you to do so. For information on which drugs should be flushed, visit the FDA’s website.

To dispose of prescription drugs not labeled to be flushed, you may be able to take advantage of community drug take-back programs or other programs, such as household hazardous waste collection events, that collect drugs at a central location for proper disposal. Call your city or county government’s household trash and recycling service and ask if a drug take-back program is available in your community.

If a drug take-back or collection program is not available:

• Take your prescription drugs out of their original containers.

• Mix drugs with an undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds.

• Put this mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as an empty margarine tub, or a sealable bag.

• Conceal or remove any personal information, including Rx number on the empty containers by covering it with a black permanent marker, duct tape, or by scratching it off.

• Place the sealed container with the mixture, and the empty drug containers, in the trash.