Sharps Bin: A Growl

[Nicky1970]

Just to annoy me, the local council has informed me that unless my doctor signs a form stating that I need my sharps bin, they will no longer collect it. Needless to write that my GP does not believe T2's should be testing and won't sign the form. 😡

 

[Steff]

How annoying Nicky,you will have to join me and stack them in a cupboard ive got 2 full ones in there at the minute not exactly ideal I know but what can I do when no one will collect them

 

[Northerner]

A solution Copepod once suggested is to put the sharps in a plastic bottle with a childproof cap (a bleach bottle, for example) then tape the cap up, which should then be OK to dispose of in your normal household waste. 🙂

 

[Mark T]

A solution Copepod once suggested is to put the sharps in a plastic bottle with a childproof cap (a bleach bottle, for example) then tape the cap up, which should then be OK to dispose of in your normal household waste. 🙂

My father does something similar, his needles go into a beer can which is taped up and crushed.

 

[AlisonM]

May I suggest you leave it on the council's doorstep, or your surgery doorstep and let them worry about it? 🙄

But seriously, Copepod's/Northerner's idea is a good one if you have no other alternatives.

 

[Copepod]

I wouldn't use a beer can, as it could easily be punctured by a needle. Child proof capped bottle is not ideal, but better than nothing, especially with cap taped on. I also prefer to use a Safe Clip device to remove sharp part of needles and choose lancets with caps that cover the sharp bit.

 

[redrevis]

May I suggest you leave it on the council's doorstep, or your surgery doorstep and let them worry about it? 🙄

That's what I'd do. They'd have to get rid of them for you then. That's bloody ridiculous that because your GP doesn't believe in T2s testing then they won't sign a form so you can get sharps disposed of correctly. How petty is that. I'd be writing a strongly worded complaint letter and sending it to the surgery, council, PALS, everywhere. I'm sure if your GP was type 2 they would be testing.

 

[AlisonM]

My needles already have a plastic cap to cover them when I take them off the injector. I'm such a clutz I'd never try to take the needle off without the cover over it.

 

[Robster65]

Used to use bottles before sharps bins were handed out. Had a needle clipper which snipped most of the needle of (and retained the sharp bit) then the remainder was put in a bottle and thrown into bin when full.

Might even be worth writing to surhery and telling what you're doing. Just because they don't prescribe them, doesn't mean you don't have a need.

I've just googled and the bins themselves are actually quite cheap to buy. A couple of quid for a 1 litre and less than a tenner for a 22 litre 😱

No idea what you do with them afterwards but they shoudl last you a long time, by which time your GP may have retired and a sensible one will take over

Rob