Safe Disposal of Sharps

If you have diabetes and use needles or syringes to inject your medication it is your responsibility to dispose of your needles safely.
This includes a syringe, needles that fit onto insulin injection pen or prefilled insulin pen and also your lancets used to do the finger prick test to check blood glucose.

Why can't I throw them in the bin?

Needles can cause injury to others because they are sharp. Once they've been used, they also carry fluids from your body, such as blood. Used needles can carry infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B or hepatitis C. A used needle which is contaminated like this can pass an infection on to other people.

Never put any sharps material directly into domestic waste

How do I get a sharps bin in the York area?

You can obtain a sharps bin from your GP. This is available on prescription (FP10). You can collect this from your local Pharmacy. When your bin is 3/4‘s full, lock the bin lid and leave for collection. A new bin can be obtained from your GP. A sharps bin is the safest way to dispose of contaminated or used sharps at home. It protects you and any other members of the family and any people involved in the removal of waste from your home.

What should go in a sharps bin?

All your used sharp items including:
Lancets
Glass injection Vials
Needles / Syringes
Full Needle-Clippers

Safe disposal in your home

Keep your sharps bin in a safe place while it's in use, so that it's not a danger to other people. The lid of the sharps bin must not be removed once the bin contains sharps.
Once you have put a used needle in your sharps bin, do not try to take it out again.
Sharps bins must not be filled above the full line. Do not force sharps into a full bin by pushing down with your hands.
When your bin is ¾’s full you must close the lid until it locks and use another bin.
Full bins must be securely stored while awaiting collection.

York sharps collection service

Your sharps are classed as clinical waste, which means that special arrangements apply to their disposal. Using a sharps bin protects everyone and makes sure the waste is treated and disposed of safely. When your sharps bin is full, contact your local authority who will collect it from your home. Some local councils also supply the sharps bin. Check with your local council. In some cases you may need to return your box to your practice

Smarter York Department
City of York Council
01904 551551

Clinical Waste Collection Service
Customer First
Scarborough Borough Council
01723 232323