How To Dispose Of Diabetes Supplies
If you have diabetes, you may have to use needles and other similar supplies on a daily basis as a means of managing your disease. One thing that you might worry about is making sure that you properly dispose of these supplies so that you do not pose a health hazard for others. Luckily, following these tips can help you get rid of them the right way.
1. Donate Unused Supplies
First of all, if you have any unused, sanitary supplies that you will not be using, you may want to think about donating them. You can contact any local diabetes education centers to find out where these supplies can be donated, or you can look into working with an organization that will send them to people abroad who have diabetes but who do not have access to the necessary supplies.
2. Store in a Sealed Container
It is not a good idea to toss your used needles or other supplies in the trash without securing them properly. Instead, you'll want to separate the plunger from the barrel of each syringe before disposing of them, which can help prevent others from using them. Then, put your supplies in a sealed container to help prevent the needles from pricking someone, which could happen through a thin garbage bag. You can purchase sealed containers that are designed for the specific use of disposing of used diabetes supplies, but you can also use a liquid laundry detergent bottle or similar for the job. For best results, make sure that the container is not see-through to help prevent someone from seeing, taking, and using your used needles.
3. Use a Hazardous Waste Disposal Company
There are companies out there that specialize in getting rid of hazardous waste, including used needles and other similar medical supplies. You can work with one of these companies to have your supplies picked up from your home, or you can look for a local drop-off location where you can take your used supplies when you are ready to dispose of them. Then, you will know that your needles and other supplies are being disposed of the right way.
As you can see, there are a few tips that you can follow to get rid of diabetes supplies. If you follow these tips, you can feel comfortable and responsible about the way that you get rid of these supplies. If you have any questions, you can talk to someone from a hazardous waste disposal company such as TransChem Environmental or can even ask your doctor for tips.