Disposal of sharps bin

[robert@fm]

I was prescribed a sharps bin in March. Although it was a large one (about 2 litres capacity), I was told to put everything in it -- not just lancets and needles, but strips (which makes sense as they're contaminated with blood, which is a good culture medium) and disposable pens (I'm on Innolet pens) as well -- and the latter are bulky, so the bin is now full.

I tried taking the bin to my pharmacy, but they claim that they don't handle sharps bins and that the GP surgery doesn't either -- they say that I have to ring the council. 😡 Which runs into one of my phobias, and also contradicts what the council say on their website:

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/Environment/RubbishWasteRecycling/HealthcareWaste.htm

Any thoughts?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Just ring your council and say you have a sharps bin that needs collecting.
Then see what they say. 🙂

 

[cathplum]

My diabetic nurse had to write a letter to the council and then there was no problem!

Good luck!

 

[Vicsetter]

The clus is in the name : it's a sharps bin - only put used needles and lancets in it. Your disposable pens and test strips can go in your normal waste.

According to your council website it's the responsibility of your GP practice to advise you of how to dispose of the full bin, looks like you should ask them what to do with it.

 

[Monica]

Just ring your council and say you have a sharps bin that needs collecting.
Then see what they say. 🙂

I agree with that. That's what I do.
Our DSN gave us the number of the council to ring for disposal. So far I only had to re-ring them once in almost 5 years.

 

[Copepod]

By the rules in the link you give, Lambeth expects you to dispose of blood strips in general waste, unless you have an infectious disease. While that doesn't help you now, it will mean much less bulk in your sharps bin next time.

While not all medications come in reusable pens (WHY NOT?!? - question for manufacturers if they want to offer choice to patients), some are available, so you only have to put needles into sharps bin and glass cartridge in sharps bin or glass recycling bin.

 

[Multicat]

Hello, thought I'd tell you what I had to do as advised by my GPs surgery. I have only lived in South Hams for 11 months, but always had problems with disposal when I was in Wales.

I emailed the Environmental health customer service & they set up a delivery & collection on request service. My day is Friday so I just have to contact them a few days before & they collect the old one & leave me a new one.

So much easier than it was before when I felt like piggy in the middle between my GP & Pharmacy.

 

[StephenM]

I think it is about time legislation was brought in about disposal of sharps boxes. Ideally for me would be a facility at the local waste site (sorry must call it recycling centre) to drop off sharps bins. The fact that every area does it differently is a total nonsense. Clinics, GP surgerys, door step pickup, etc. should all take them. Diabetes can be stressful enough without having to worry about disposal of sharps! It just seems to be a lack of joined up thinking to me!

 

[Northerner]

I wonder if, in those places where the surgery accepts them, the local council makes a payment to the surgery rather than organising their own collection/replacement service, so the costs ultimately lie with the council?

My council collect and replace. Is there some way of contacting the council rather than phoning Robert? They must provide some alternative for those who cannot phone I would have thought. I hope you can get things sorted satifactorily and without further messing about! 🙂

 

[Copepod]

I think it is about time legislation was brought in about disposal of sharps boxes. Ideally for me would be a facility at the local waste site (sorry must call it recycling centre) to drop off sharps bins. The fact that every area does it differently is a total nonsense. Clinics, GP surgerys, door step pickup, etc. should all take them. Diabetes can be stressful enough without having to worry about disposal of sharps! It just seems to be a lack of joined up thinking to me!

Nice idea, StephenM, but just look at how neighbouring council areas collect different combinations of recyclables in different colours of bins, boxes, sorted / mixed etc.

Surely your council has an email address or face to face office options for communication, as well as phone, Robert?