Toxic Hazards
Disposal of home-generated syringes and needles
What are home-generated syringes and needles?
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Home-generated syringes and needles are medical items used at home to inject medications. Diabetics who inject insulin use needles and syringes to inject this medication. Other medical treatments include home injections. All needles found on the street, in parks, and other public places should also be disposed of in the manner described below.
Why do home-generated syringes and needles pose a public health risk?
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Home-generated syringes and needles can carry disease-causing germs such as those that cause hepatitis or AIDS. These germs can enter the body if the skin is punctured. It is important to clean and dispose of home-generated syringes and needles to avoid injury.
What are safe ways to dispose of home-generated syringes and needles?
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- Home-generated syringes and needles are exempt from the guidelines for the disposal of biomedical waste unless they have been prepared for disposal so that people who have to handle them are protected from injury.
- If you find a syringe or needle, do not pick it up with your bare hands. Use a towel, shovel, and/or broom and dustpan to pick it up.
- Home-generated syringes and needles must be disposed of in one of the following ways:
- In King County, sharps, including syringes clipped with a needle, can be disposed of in the garbage if the sharps are placed in a puncture resistant container such as a 2 liter PET pop bottle, with a tight fitting or taped lid and labeled "SHARPS, DO NOT RECYCLE."
- In the City of Seattle, no syringes or sharps, even if clipped, can be disposed of in the garbage. They should be placed in a puncture resistant container with a tight fitting lid, labeled "SHARPS, DO NOT RECYCLE" and taken to the North or South Transfer station and placed in the collection bin for disposal.
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related sites
 King County Needle Exchange Program
Needle exchange is designed to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne infections among injection drug users, their families and communities.
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 The Point is the Point!
Exposed points are really dangerous. So are broken-off points. They are hard to see and can easily get lost in clothes, carpets, couches, wherever. Always use a new syringe everytime you inject.
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 Safe, legal and free disposal of sharps
Drop off your container of used sharps at a Public Health Clinic, syringe drop box, recycling and disposal station or your local Needle Exchange.
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