How to Dispose of Diabetic Needles

When you have diabetes, daily insulin injections are just a part of life. If your syringes don't have needle-destruction mechanisms, you must dispose of your syringes yourself. Disposing of used needles safely, however, requires understanding of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations and knowing about local resources for used-syringe disposal. This step-by-step ensures that you have the proper equipment and knowing where to find disposal information to keep you, your family and your community safe.

Things You'll Need

• Home sharps container
• Internet access

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Use the power of the internet. In the resources section below, you'll find two searchable sites that provide information about needle-disposal programs and drop-off sites in your local area. Learn your community's laws, and know ahead of time where you can drop off your used needles.

• 2

  Recap your needle after an insulin injection. Depending on the type of injection device you use, place the used needle or the entire syringe inside a home sharps container.

• 3

  When your home sharps container is filled, lock the cap. Most come with a self-locking cap. Then place the container some place out of harm's way until you can bring it to a disposal site.