Used needles and other “sharps” are part of everyday life for many people who manage medical conditions at home. Sharps is a general term for medical devices with sharp points or edges that can cut or puncture the skin. These may include needles, syringes with attached needles, lancets used for blood glucose testing, auto-injectors, infusion-set needles, and injection pens and needles used to administer medications, including injectable GLP-1 medications used for diabetes or weight management.
The guidance below is intended specifically for household-generated sharps used by individuals for their own care or the care of family members. It does not apply to sharps or medical waste generated by health care facilities, businesses, or other commercial entities, which may be subject to different disposal requirements.
When household sharps aren’t handled and disposed of properly, they can cause accidental needle sticks, cuts and punctures, potentially exposing family members, sanitation workers and others to serious infections. To reduce these risks, used sharps should be placed in an appropriate sharps disposal container immediately after use.
Dispose of Sharps Immediately After Use
The safest practice is to place used needles and other sharps into a sharps disposal container immediately after use. Whenever possible, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recommends using an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container.
FDA-cleared sharps containers may be available through health care providers, hospitals, health insurance plans or medication suppliers, and they can also be purchased from pharmacies or online.
Always keep sharps and sharps disposal containers out of reach of children and pets.
What If You Don’t Have an FDA-Cleared Sharps Container?
If an FDA-cleared container isn’t available, FDA guidance notes that some organizations and community guidelines recommend using a heavy-duty plastic household container, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle, as an alternative.
An appropriate household container should be:
- Made of heavy-duty plastic
- Able to remain upright and stable during use
- Leak-resistant
- Equipped with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid that prevents sharps from coming out
- Properly labeled
Avoid containers that can easily break or be punctured, such as milk containers, water bottles, glass containers and soda cans, as illustrated in the FDA’s safe-disposal guidance.
For household-generated sharps, once your sharps disposal container is full, tape the container securely shut, ensure that the container is appropriately labeled as “Sharps Biohazard,” and place it in your household trash for regular disposal.
These household disposal instructions do not apply to sharps generated by businesses, health care providers or other commercial operations.
What Not to Do With Used Sharps
Never place loose needles or other sharps directly in household trash or recycling, and never flush them down the toilet. Sharps are not recyclable.
You should also never try to remove, bend, break or recap a needle used by another person. Doing so increases the risk of an accidental needle stick and possible infection.
Don’t Forget About Sharps Safety When Traveling
If you use needles, lancets or other sharps for personal medical care while away from home, plan ahead. The FDA recommends carrying a portable sharps disposal container when traveling rather than waiting until you return home to safely contain used sharps.
Using Personal Sharps Away From Home
Household-generated sharps safety doesn’t stop when you leave home. If you need to use needles, lancets, injection pens or other sharps for personal medical care while at work, traveling or in another public place, place them in an appropriate sharps disposal container immediately after use. Do not leave loose sharps in ordinary trash cans or other places where they could injure another person.
Whether you’re managing a health condition at home, caring for a family member or using personal medical sharps while traveling, a few simple precautions can help protect you and the people around you.
Remember: contain household-generated sharps immediately, keep containers away from children and pets, and never place loose sharps in the trash or recycling.