Libre unit disposal

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spoon363

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Type 1
Hi,

Im about to put a libre on for the first time later today. Ive been given a sharps box that it 7 litres. Just wondering if Im meant to put the whole unit into the box once its on, or does that go in the normal bin?

Thanks in advance.
 
I always put my Libre applicator in the normal bin as the needle is retracted. Some people will pull the applicator apart and fish out the needle and others will put the whole applicator in their sharps bin.
My logic comes as a seamstress who has been doing so and breaking needles for longer than I have had diabetes and much longer than I have had a sharps bin. Broken sewing needles always went into normal waste (usually wrapped in a piece of spare fabric) and the retracted Libre applicator needle is no less dangerous.
There is also a school of thought that the applicator is clinical waste as it has bodily fluids. Personally, I do not subscribe to this - we are happy to put plasters in normal waste and girls are not given clinical waste bins when they reach puberty.

I suspect, if you ask three different people about what to do with Libre applicator, you will get three different answers. I appreciate this is not overly helpful but maybe it is a case of there is not a right or wrong answer but what you feel comfortable with.
 
Once you’ve inserted your sensor, you’re left with three parts. The bit the sensor was in, which doesn’t contain anything sharp, the lid of the inserter unit, also nothing sharp, so these two can definitely go into household waste, (or hard plastics recycling if your council does it) and the bit that has the inserter needle in, which is sharp but not in a prominent place, especially if you screw the cap back on,
Ah, I see @helli has beaten me to it! I’m one of the people who dismantles the inserter and fishes the sharp needle out with a pair of pliers then puts the lot into the hard plastics recycling, but really, life's too short!
 
If they have given you a 7 litre bin, then your local policy is to dispose of the applicator part containing the needle into that, but like @Robin, I dismantle the applicator, remove the needle inside with pliers, being careful that the spring doesn't fly out and hit me in the eye in the process of dismantling (wearing glasses is of use) and then hard plastics go in a box to go to the tip on my next visit, metal spring goes in general recycling or a box that I am trying to figure out a use for.... they are far to pretty and shiny and useful looking to bin....and I am amassing a box of spent sensors that feel like they should be involved in some sort of artistic project.... perhaps also involving the springs. Still awaiting inspiration on that score!
 
Rightly (or wrongly!) I screw the applicator cap back onto the used applicator and put that into our mixed recycling bin (working on the principle that the needle is retracted into it) along with sensor pot and cardboard packaging.

The only thing I put into my sharps bin is the used sensor, although as @helli says we probably all happily throw plasters away in normal waste - and how do people dispose of nappies?

The only worry I have is with the battery being in the sensor and electronics, would that cause an issue when they dispose of the sharps bin? Come to think of it I don’t know how that is done - are they incinerated?
 
spoon363 said:
Hi,

Im about to put a libre on for the first time later today. Ive been given a sharps box that it 7 litres. Just wondering if Im meant to put the whole unit into the box once its on, or does that go in the normal bin?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
The applicator (without the clear plastic cover) contains a sharp spike about 1 to 2 cm long that has been contaminated by your blood an is required to be incinerated via the sharps bill. The clear plastic dome and the package that contained the cor of the sensor is benign and can go in your wheelie bin.
 
Found this on the NHS website at https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/w...linical-waste-disposal-from-abbott-040618.pdf

which reads :

*Communications from Abbott, 4th July 2018*
Update on FreeStyle Libre® clinical waste disposal information.
For the purposes of implementation across London, the advice sent previously applies, that is:

Sensors
These should be placed in sharps bins. Most people with diabetes will already have a collection service established with their local authority for these.

Sensor applicators
The clear lid should be screwed back onto the applicator, which should then be placed in a yellow biohazard/ clinical waste bag. Most London local authorities will collect the bags and replace with new ones. This service can be arranged by the patient contacting their local authority. They may need a referral from their GP or specialist team, depending on the LA policy.
Abbott are able to provide biohazard/clinical waste bags to specialist centres who are initiating patients on FreeStyle Libre, for initial sensors and, if the patient’s local authority does not provide them, for subsequent sensors. Centres can request the bags from the local Abbott Territory Manager.

Sensor pack
These should be placed in general household waste.

So, sensors are ok in sharps bins (phew, because that’s what I do!). The issue is around the applicators, my recycling head wants to recycle as much as I can though!
 
The lead DSN/Manager of my hospital diabetes clinic told me to put everything in our normal household waste bin, which is what I've always done.
 
Eternal422 said:
Rightly (or wrongly!) I screw the applicator cap back onto the used applicator and put that into our mixed recycling bin (working on the principle that the needle is retracted into it) along with sensor pot and cardboard packaging.
Click to expand...
To me this is by far the worst scenario.
Plastics are not universally recyclable and the applicator is a mixture of metal and hard plastic, so putting it in the recyclable bin could in fact compromise not just your bin of normal recyclable plastic, but the whole lorry load.
If the plastics are hand picked off a conveyor at a sorting site, to remove non recyclable plastics, then firstly you are giving them extra work to extract the hard plastics which should not generally go in household recycling, but if the applicators get crushed in the bin lorry or conveyors mechanisms, the needles pose a risk to maintenance people/pickers.
I really don't believe this approach is benefitting the environment and potentially putting people at risk by not disposing of the sharps appropriately. That is my take in it.
 
Has anyone got any more recent info on recycling the libre applicators? They really shouldn’t be going into landfill. Abbott are piloting a scheme in the US where you can return to Abbott in a provided bag but this hasn't been rolled out to other countries yet.
Impact on the environment seems to always be an afterthought with new products which I find disappointing to say the least.
I would appreciate any info.
 
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