I’m fully aware of the different categories that affect all our waste and how each should be disposed off, down to what coloured bag they should be in for the different types. At one time major part of my job working for the Public Health laboratory Service, dealing with human samples that could be contaminated with some iffy stuff, and chewing your pencil was a sack able offense written into your contract!
The likely hood coming to harm if thrown a disposable pen in with normal household rubbish, would be lower than that of a child obtaining the pen out of the actual sharps bin, it is surprisingly easy to do until the bin is secured for disposal... Hence why my sharp bin is kept on top of my fridge/freezer out of the way!
As to disposal practices, when I first became diabetic, you put all your sharps into can (I used a drinks can with small opening) when full tape it up with packing tape, into my dustbin, and I had small children to consider but never had a problem as well they weren’t in the habit of ferreting through bins, so did my husband, my friend husband etc all have toddler etc to consider...
But if the concerns is that they would get hold of some insulin still contained in the pen, then if the needle isn’t on the pen this would be very extremely difficult so very unlikely, if so then those who use the re-usable pens, would have to put there finished insulin cartridge into the sharp box! After all it still contains small amount of insulin... but nobody batters an eye lid about throwing an used cartridge into pedal bin, waste basket etc..
I’ve just asked my husband concerning the disposal procedure for where he works (residential care) so have to follow appropriate clinical waste legislation/regulation procedure, disposable pens are put into normal waste... Sharp bins are for sharps objects, other clinical waste i.e pads, bandages, type of clinical waste are disposed of in clinical waste bin (bag) and he’s IOSH (institute of safety and health) certificated and responsible for ensure safe disposal of clinical waste as part of his duties..
Pollr
I would check with your sugery, most don't has it increases the cost of disposal of their clinical waste... Contact your local council, they will either provide a collection service or they will let you where to go or who to contact..