Safe Needle Disposal
Safe needle disposal is important to prevent needles in community parks, on streets, and in public areas. Safe needle disposal helps prevent injury, and ensures the safety of local residents and first responders.
A personal Sharps box can be bough at a local store. In Pennsylvania, Sharps boxes can be thrown away in the trast if they are completely sealed and covered in duct tape. If you cannot buy a Sharps box, you may make your own at home.
Do-It-Yourself Sharps Box:
- Choose a solid, plastic container that can't be poked by a needle such as a used laundry detergent bottle with a screw on the lid
- Label the bottle so that it doesn't get mixed in with the other trash
- Keep out of reach of children/animals
- Place used needles, point first, into the bottle
- Throw away when the bottle is a little over half full. Duct tape the screw on lid so it can't be opened
- Put the bottle in a plastic bag, then tie it. Put the bag into regular garbage, then tie it up
Do Not throw away used needle directly into the trash
Do Not flush needles or throw them away outside
Do Not try to break off the used needle to throw away
Do Not put needles in the recycling bin, even if they are inside a recyclable bottle
Do Not try to reach into the bottle after used needles have been put inside