How to dispose of needles at home

The short version

• Put used sharps straight into a sharps disposal container. Don't carry them around loose.
• Never put loose needles in household or public trash, in recycling, or down the toilet.
• When the container is about three-quarters full, follow your community's guidelines for getting rid of it.
• Programs differ by city, county and state. Your local trash service or health department can tell you what's available.

Use an FDA-cleared sharps container

FDA recommends that used needles and other sharps go immediately into an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container. They're generally available at pharmacies, from medical supply companies and health care providers, and online. They're made of rigid plastic with a line that shows when the container counts as full, and they come in sizes that include small travel containers. FDA keeps a list of cleared products on its page, though not every product on the list is still on sale. (FDA, Sharps Disposal Containers)

FDA's do's and don'ts list adds two practical questions worth asking. Ask whether your insurer covers sharps containers, and ask the manufacturer of your medication whether it provides one to patients at no charge. (FDA, DOs and DON'Ts)

Keep the container out of reach of children and pets. Don't reuse a sharps container. Don't let it overfill: FDA says an overfilled container raises the risk of an accidental needle stick. (FDA, Best Way to Get Rid of Used Needles)

What never to do

From FDA's guidance:

• Don't throw loose needles or other sharps in the trash, and don't put them in recycling. Sharps aren't recyclable, and loose ones put trash and sewage workers, janitors, housekeepers, household members and children at risk.
• Don't flush them.
• Don't try to remove, bend, break or recap needles used by another person.
• Don't try to remove a needle from a syringe unless you're using a needle clipper made for it.

(FDA, Safely Using Sharps, FDA, DOs and DON'Ts)

If you're stuck by someone else's used needle, FDA says to wash the area right away with soap and water or an antiseptic and to seek immediate medical attention, by calling your physician or the local hospital.

When the container is full

FDA says to follow your community guidelines once the container is about three-quarters full. Seal it and label it properly first. Depending on where you live, FDA lists these options:

• Drop box or supervised collection sites. These can include doctors' offices, hospitals, pharmacies, health departments, medical waste facilities, and police or fire stations. Some are free and some charge a small fee.
• Household hazardous waste collection sites. These are the places that also take things such as paint and motor oil.
• Mail-back programs. You mail certain FDA-cleared containers to a collection site, usually for a fee. Follow the container maker's instructions, because they may have specific labeling rules.
• Residential special waste pick-up. Some communities send trained handlers to collect containers from your home. These are typically fee-based, and some need you to request a pick-up.

(FDA, Best Way to Get Rid of Used Needles)

Traveling with used sharps

FDA's advice is to carry a small, travel-size sharps container, since other options may not be available when you're away from home. Loose sharps don't go in a hotel or other public trash can either: FDA says safe disposal matters in places such as hotels, parks and restaurants too.

On a plane, TSA allows used syringes in carry-on and checked bags when they're in a sharps disposal container or a similar hard-surface container. See flying with injectable medication for the rest of TSA's rules, and check TSA's site for current rules before you fly, as FDA also advises.

Peptimes and your records

Peptimes has no part in disposal. It's a private iPhone tracker for the compounds you already use: you log doses, review your history and calendar, set reminders for your scheduled doses and export your records as CSV or JSON. Your health records are stored on your iPhone. For container programs and local rules, your health department and the sources above are the place to look.