Do you or a loved-one use needles, syringes, or lancets for medications administered at home? Throwing them directly into the trash may put our local waste workers, families, and environment at risk. In Kentucky, it’s legal to dispose of household sharps in your regular trash, but ONLY if they’re properly contained and sealed. Follow these 3 simple steps to safely dispose of home medical sharps:
1) CONTAIN IT: Immediately place used needles into a heavy-duty, puncture resistant plastic container with a tight lid. An empty, sturdy laundry detergent or bleach bottle works great! Never use thin water bottles, soda bottles, or glass.
2) SEAL & LABEL IT: When the bottle is 3/4 full, screw the cap on tightly and secure it heavily with duct tape. Write “SHARPS – DO NOT RECYCLE” clearly on the outside.
3) TOSS IT: Place the properly sealed, taped bottle directly into your regular household trash. Never put sharps containers in your recycling bin and never flush syringes down the toilet.
Let’s work together to keep Madison County safe and clean!
Check out this fact sheet from the Environmental Compliance Assistance Program:
