Disposal of Libre 2

[OscarLove]

I think the nurse told me it was all plastic and could be recycled with plastics but when I saw her and gave her my first used applicator thing, she put it her sharps bin. But I didn’t think it had a needle? The lid is obviously just plastic so no problem. What about the sensor itself? Does that go with other things with batteries or what? Do I need to use a sharps bin for the applicators? They are rather large, much larger than finger prick needles.

 

[In Response]

I think you will get different answers depending who you ask.

The sensor itself contains nothing sharp - the filament which goes in your arm is very fine.
However, it is inserted with a needles that is retracted into the applicator.
Some people feel the needle is protected so can go in normal waste (not recycling).
Others put the applicator in their sharp’s bin.
And another group gets their pliers out to dismantle the applicator to extract the needle.

 

[Ushthetaff]

For me box clear plastic bit all go in specific recycling bins rest-in household rubbish

 

[OscarLove]

I think you will get different answers depending who you ask.

The sensor itself contains nothing sharp - the filament which goes in your arm is very fine.
However, it is inserted with a needles that is retracted into the applicator.
Some people feel the needle is protected so can go in normal waste (not recycling).
Others put the applicator in their sharp’s bin.
And another group gets their pliers out to dismantle the applicator to extract the needle.

Thank you for your reply. I certainly feel more at ease with things now. I think I'll go with household waste for the applicator as they will fill the sharps bin in no time. What do you do withe the sensor? Does it have a battery as I believe. It looks odd with my other bage of AA and AAA batteries for recycling or whatever they do with them.

 

[OscarLove]

For me box clear plastic bit all go in specific recycling bins rest-in household rubbish

You just recycle the lid bit? Rest in household rubbish, sensor itself and the applicator? I don't suppose this is the worst thing they get in household rubbish. I just worry about everything at the moment.

 

[Antje77]

Sensor itself goes with batteries for me because it has a battery, the rest goes in household waste.

 

[OscarLove]

Sensor itself goes with batteries for me because it has a battery, the rest goes in household waste.

Thank you.

 

[Ushthetaff]

You just recycle the lid bit? Rest in household rubbish, sensor itself and the applicator? I don't suppose this is the worst thing they get in household rubbish. I just worry about everything at the moment.

No I recycle the box and the plastic lid and the rest goes in household rubbish

 

[becca59]

Goes in my 7l bin as area I live in provides exactly for this purpose.

 

[Hopeful34]

When I used Libre I did the same as @becca59 and now Dexcom goes in the 7 litre bin.

 

[OscarLove]

No I recycle the box and the plastic lid and the rest goes in household rubbish

Thank you for clarifying.

 

[OscarLove]

Goes in my 7l bin as area I live in provides exactly for this purpose.

What’s a 7l bin? What things go in there?

 

[Hopeful34]

It's a sharps bin, so needles, lancets etc and in our area that includes Libre and Dexcom sensors.

 

[OscarLove]

It's a sharps bin, so needles, lancets etc and in our area that includes Libre and Dexcom sensors.

Oh, thanks, sorry if I was being dim. Not sure what size my sharps bin is, but I did ask for one with a big opening last time I got one as the applicator wouldn’t go into the opening in the bin I had for finger prick needles.

 

[becca59]

The 7l bin arrived uninvited at the chemist. I was a little confused. Turns out as soon as I got Libre on the NHS they were adamant that the debris had to go in it. I spent 2 years+ just putting in household waste when I was self funding. I have hidden the monstrosity in a wardrobe and just have the small one sitting on my kitchen top. Replace the litre one every 1-2 months and the 7Litre one yearly.

 

[OscarLove]

The 7l bin arrived uninvited at the chemist. I was a little confused. Turns out as soon as I got Libre on the NHS they were adamant that the debris had to go in it. I spent 2 years+ just putting in household waste when I was self funding. I have hidden the monstrosity in a wardrobe and just have the small one sitting on my kitchen top. Replace the litre one every 1-2 months and the 7Litre one yearly.

Thanks. Seems to be different whereabouts in the UK you are then. I’m in Wales anyway and the Welsh Senedd are responsible for our NHS, but you would think that the diabetes nurses would all get the same training.

 

[sgm14]

And another group gets their pliers out to dismantle the applicator to extract the needle.

I'm in that group as I never got a big sharps box.

The official line from Abbott is https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/support/faq/question-answer.html?q=UKFaqquestion-72

 

[OscarLove]

I'm in that group as I never got a big sharps box.

The official line from Abbott is https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/support/faq/question-answer.html?q=UKFaqquestion-72

Thanks for the link. That’s interesting. Did you try your local pharmacy for a sharps box (UK)?

 

[sgm14]

Did you try your local pharmacy for a sharps box (UK)?

I did not check if they had large ones but I get the small (1L ?) box from them on prescription.

 

[OscarLove]

I did not check if they had large ones but I get the small (1L ?) box from them on prescription.

Are you in the UK? I think originally I got my sharps bins from the surgery but then it became that I could get them from the pharmacy (no prescription required). So when I got the Libre 2 I asked for one with a big entrance hole. BTW I am in Wales, and I know some things are different here or even between surgeries etc I think. For instance, all recycling varies from council to council!