• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Where to dispose of lancets, pls?

Energize

Energize

Well-Known Member
Messages
810
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi

:?: Where do you dispose of your lancets, please?

I don't get strips and lancets prescribed, so I buy them. I do replace the cover, so I can't see that they are a danger. However, I can appreciate they should be disposed of in an appropriate way.

Thanks to all
 
Replacing the cover doesn't really help if you put them in general rubbish, the covers are easily dislodged. In many places it's illegal to put used 'sharps' in general rubbish. A 1 litre sharps bin would last ages if you're only putting lancets in and wouldn't be expensive. When prescribed they cost the NHS about 85p, but you may be able to buy from your pharmacist or online. Otherwise you could put the lancets in a secure resealable container eg a bottle or milk container, if that's allowed in your area.
 
Thanks, LittleSue

Yes, I assumed putting them in the rubbish would not be acceptable! :)

I have been putting them a plastic medicine bottle but didn't feel comfortable to put even this in the bin. I don't test all the time although more at the moment as I'm trying to get to grips with my eating habits etc. I'm not keen to have a sharps box here but maybe I could take the bottle to Boots, and they might be happy to empty into their sharps box. It's not as if there will be a huge amount at any time. It's just knowing where to take them.

Thanks for suggesting the pharmacists may have sharps boxes for sale - that's what made me think of them. Failing that, or other ideas, it might have to be a sharps box - but I have more than enough clutter around me, I really don't need more!!! ;)

Hopefully, someone in a similar situation can tell me what they do with theirs ...

Cheers
 
Smaller sharps containers are available (0.3 litre upwards), designed for travel but easily tucked away out of sight. They're a lot more expensive though.
 
Blood test strips are not a bio-hazard so these can be thrown into household waste, they do not contain enough blood on them to be classed as a bio-hazard nor do they pose a finger stick injury risk..

Lancets actually are pretty much the same, any bi-hizard risk is very small so cross-contammination isn't the main risk factor, The risk factor is the ability to cause a finger stick injury which if happens will cause the victim just over 6 months of serious worry, has some infection can be detected or procautionary measure taken straight away, but diseases such HIV can't be tested for in the first 6 months :shock:

You can purchase a sharps bin to put them in and arrange for either your local council or private company to dispose off.. If you aren't a registered drug user or the bin hasn't been prescribed/issued by your GP/NHS then the council like the private company will expect you to pay for the service..

You could however chose to use the old fashioned method...

That is putting them in a suitable container, such as the test strip tub or drinks can, then when full tape securely and toss into the household waste...

Oh for any doubting thomas's concerning Test Strips being classed as household waste, read the insert
 
LittleSue said:
Smaller sharps containers are available (0.3 litre upwards), designed for travel but easily tucked away out of sight. They're a lot more expensive though.
Click to expand...
Hi, Where can we get these from? I would like to purchase one. Anna.
 
I brought a sharps container on ebay last night. I did some Googling around to find out about them, then brought the most suitable one on there. I'm not sure about disposal, but we use sharps at work, so I'll ask when I finally get back to work next week.
 
Hi
Thanks for all this information and tips.

I have the OneTouch UltraSoft lancets which have the plastic protector that can be firmly replaced after use so they are probably pretty well safe in a decent plastic container which is then well sealed. However, I would perhaps be happier to use a needle cutter, just to be safe and discard the little metal bits into a sharps box somewhere. So, may I ask, Sarah69, where did you get your needle cutter from? I will Google it and see if anything comes up.

Thank you, Jopar, for your reassurance that the test strips aren't a hazard and can go in household waste. Again, I use the OneTouch Ultra strips which draw the tiny amount of blood. I do wipe them with a tissue before binning them so I am confident they wouldn't cause a problem.

However, I don't know if different types are considered differently or, most likely, the manufacturers don't want any responsibility, in the insert with my Test Strips, it says:

used test strips may be considered biohazardous waste in your area. Be sure to follow ... your local regulations for proper disposal

So, maybe different strips/manufacturers have different guidelines? I will try to check the local regulations out but, as you suggest, a strong, plastic, sealed container would surely hold absolutely no hazard.

Anyway, I really appreciate your suggestions. Thanks very much
 
anna29 said:
LittleSue said:
Smaller sharps containers are available (0.3 litre upwards), designed for travel but easily tucked away out of sight. They're a lot more expensive though.
Click to expand...
Hi, Where can we get these from? I would like to purchase one. Anna.
Click to expand...

http://www.medicalshop.co.uk/s/6.99/0.3 ... Sharps-Bin
They do larger sizes too. No measurements on the site, but you could email and ask them. I've never used this supplier but my DSN gave me their brochure, so I presume they're reliable.

Or try a web search. Some as small as 0.2 litre show up on ebay with measurements quoted.
 
Won't your doctor prescribe one for you? Even if he/she is not prescribing test strips (which he should be, but that's another debate) surely he would allow you a sharps box.

My sharps boxes are collected by a council collector and he leaves another in its place. Magic! It means that after the first prescription, the service does away with the need to prescribe or buy. I know all areas seem to have different services, so the info probably won't help in other areas, but it's worth asking.
 
Energize said:
Hi
However, I don't know if different types are considered differently or, most likely, the manufacturers don't want any responsibility, in the insert with my Test Strips, it says:

used test strips may be considered biohazardous waste in your area. Be sure to follow ... your local regulations for proper disposal
Click to expand...

Strips aren't a biohazard, especially when you think what women of childbearing age put in the bin every month. Its less about different strips and more about local rubbish rules... or where you are when someone sees you put a used strip in the bin. In the hospital where I used to work a nurse told me off for putting a test strip and a blob of bloodstained cotton wool in the bin. She considered it 'clinical waste' which must go in the special bags. Taking take them home where they're considered harmless was less hassle than getting access to the clinical waste container.

Standard 1 litre sharps bins cost your GP about 85p. One bin would last months if you're only putting test strips in.

I had a needle clipping device which swallowed the cut-off needle. It lasted long after the number of needles clipped suggested it should be full, but I'm not sure if they can clip lancets.
 
Back
Top