Sharps Bin

A sharps bin is used to dispose of used needles and other sharp medical items safely, such as syringes, injection pen needles and lancets from finger-prick devices. Keeping them in a bin with a lid helps protect you, your family and anyone else who could come into contact with them from injury and infection.

It’s only for sharps, so don’t put other rubbish in it, such as tablets, batteries or dressings. Used needles shouldn’t go in any other bin.

Used needles, including the needles from injection pens, and used syringes go in a sharps bin, as do lancets from finger-prick devices and sharps from insulin pumps. Put them in as soon as you’ve used them, and don’t take syringes apart first.

Other items don’t belong in a sharps bin, such as tablets, batteries, razors, dressings, empty vials and injection pens with the needle removed. If you’re unsure about something, or how to dispose of an empty pen, ask your pharmacist.

Where you take a full sharps bin depends on where you live. Ask your community pharmacy whether they offer a sharps bin service, and contact your local council, as some councils collect or dispose of sharps bins.

When the bin reaches the fill line, close the lid securely and write your name and the date on it. Until it’s collected, keep it somewhere safe, away from children and pets. Never put a full or partly filled sharps bin in your household bin or recycling.

• Check the lid is fitted securely before you put anything in the bin.
• Keep it on a flat, stable surface where it can’t be knocked over, not on the floor or above shoulder height, and out of reach of children and pets.
• Put syringes in with the needle still attached, as soon as you’ve used them. Don’t bend, break or re-cap needles, and don’t take syringes apart.
• Don’t push sharps down with your hands, and never try to take anything back out.
• Stop filling at the fill line, usually about three-quarters full. Then close the lid securely, write your name and the date on the bin, and arrange for it to be collected.