Sharps bin collection

[yage]

Hi All

Im sure this has been discussed before but I cant find a thread.

How do you get rid of your yellow bins? I heard the council can pick them up, if so do they give you a replacement, empty, bin? I have emailed the local counsil but have not heard back from them... funny that...

Phil

 

[sugarless sue]

You could also check with your health centre, I am sure they will have the relevent information as well.

 

[cugila]

Your Local Council Waste Disposal Department has a duty to provide both the Sharps Bins and dispose of them safely. You need to PHONE the appropriate section which is the one which deals with Clinical Waste and request a collection and a replacement bin.

Most areas it is free, however some Council's do make a charge, It all depends on which area of the country you live in.

Here in the West Midlands, Birmingham area it is free and the number is well publicised.

 

[totsy]

im in yorkshire and i just phone up and they pick up and give me a new one free

 

[SophiaW]

We phone our council and usually within 2 days they'll collect the old one and leave us with a new one. They don't make a charge for the service.

 

[Shazza]

I was never given a sharps bin, should I have been?

 

[leggott]

Hi, Normally you need to contact environmental services at your local council. They will then register you and send you a bin with some numbered stickers. Once you have filled the bin, you contact them with the your allocated reference number, place a sticker on the bin and they will call to collect the filled bin & replace with an empty one. In our area we are allowed to leave the bin in the porch if we are out and they just leave an empty one. You should also be able to order a replacement bins on prescription. Leggott

 

[dot]

I take the full ones back to the pharmacist. The new one is ordered via prescription

 

[SophiaW]

I was never given a sharps bin, should I have been?

How do you dispose of used needles? We were given the first sharps bin along with all the other "stuff" that you're given for diabetes when discharged from hospital.

 

[roo.be]

Similarly, I phone the environmental dept at my local council and they come and collect the full bin and leave me an empty one. They have specific days for collection in my area and I can leave them on the doorstep if it's safe to do so, i.e., my door doesn't open out onto the street.

My first box came from them simply by ringing and asking.

roo.be

 

[Shazza]

thanks I will phone council tomorrow see what they say, we left hospital with everything but no sharps bin, needles etc go in norm bin

 

[cugila]

thanks I will phone council tomorrow see what they say, we left hospital with everything but no sharps bin, needles etc go in norm bin

Hi Shazza.
Until you get your Sharps Bin can you PLEASE put used needles etc into a sealed rigid comtainer. They should never be disposed of in household rubbish. This puts refuse operatives at risk of needle stick injuries and other things. This is Clinical Waste and should be treated as such.

I had a needle stick injury because of a thoughtlessly discarded needle once, I had nearly 6 months of worry before being given the all clear.....very stressful time.

 

[Shazza]

yes definetly will

 

[Janemm]

I am Lucky, I was given a sharps bin when I was first diagnosed, when its full I exchange it by prescription.

 

[yage]

Great, thanks for all the replies, waiting to hear back from the council now and hopefully resolved soon

Thanks again

 

[Debloubed]

you can also get a little 'cutter' gizmo on prescription which slices the needle off the end of the plastic bit it sits in, then if you have left the lid on there is no sharp part. I have never had an 'official' sharps disposal bin but I have found with the cutter you can keep the needle tips safe and I use something handy to keep them all together before disposal. (when I was diagnosed I was told to use an old coke can!! how times have changed :wink: )

 

[Shazza]

we have the cutter, it looks like a mini stapler

 

[Cazz]

I've just checked my council's website to look at whether they do a clinical waste collection and they mention syringes and catridges as being in Group B category of clinical waste which means they have to be collected by a specialist company. Does this mean empty insulin cartridges shouldn't go in the bin?

 

[neededthat]

i take mine to me doctors when there full thought thats what everyone did lol,

 

[IrishJoe]

My council expects me to cycle / walk / bus to the far side of town just to dispose of mine and even then there's no guarantee that they'll take them. Great because by the time I get off work its closed.

Despite trying to contact them umpteen times I've given up.