Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Greg on August 29, 2009 at 9:46am

It only take a sec to remove the needle. this is what i do you just need to make sure that you grab the needle as low down as you can or it will break off..

Greg

Permalink Reply by Susi (Ladalife) on August 30, 2009 at 10:49pm

I remove the sharp with small pliers which I keep next to the sharps container. As Greg said, it doesn't take long. Besides, a couple of seconds to avoid someone else sticking themselves, is surely worth it. Do you know exactly what happens to your garbage once it leaves your house?

You could call your local rubbish pick up place and find out what their policy is. Some accept the whole container with the sharp, some don't.

Still... there's so much rubbish associated with diabetes! Surely the manufacturers could do some of it with less packaging and less paper inserts!

Permalink Reply by David on September 2, 2009 at 5:09am

I was told if you closed them up you could just throw them in the trash as they were their own "sharps" container. I like the idea of pulling the needle part out and recycling the plastic though. Me....I have two bushel baskets full of the things. I'm saving them for some 3-d diabetic art project yet to be designed. Knowing me, when i get to 3 bushel baskets, I'll give up on the art project and just toss them all in recycle. I also end up with a bunch of tubing also as the tming of my cartridge change never seems to coincide with the changing of the site and I just keep reusing the same connection tubing.

Permalink Reply by FatCatAnna on September 13, 2009 at 7:01pm

It's not that difficult to pull out the introducer needle Preta! Only a few seconds - and poof - it's off - and I place that bit in my sharps container. The case then goes into my recycle bin - as the plastic number 5 is accepted here in the municipality I live in. I know in the beginning - it put me off of using the Inset 90 - but once I found out it could be recycled - I felt abit less guilty about using it. I like the ease of using the Inset 90 - compared to manually inserting it into my skin.

Permalink Reply by Don Kelly on October 17, 2009 at 4:49pm

I've used a needle clipper and cut the needle off, and tossed the rest into the recycle. I keep the snipper right by my recycle bin. Takes 2 secs. to do it and then it is a toss.

Permalink Reply by Preta on October 17, 2009 at 10:08pm

Thanks everyone, I guess I will have to pull the needle out and recycle the case. I was just hoping there was a disposal case with a big enough hole to fit the whole thing....I just hate the multiple steps even though they really aren't that time consuming. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Karla J Sherer on October 27, 2009 at 11:57am

You can also bend the needle part over and place it under the plastic where it will hold then close up the plastic. That is if you don't want to pull the needle. At least that way there is less chance of anyone getting stuck.

Permalink Reply by Ali on November 2, 2009 at 7:42pm

Hi everyone! I just replace the cap and throw it in my regular trashcan. I never have used a sharps container in my life. I just recap everything and pitch. Never had any complaints.

Permalink Reply by Susi (Ladalife) on November 3, 2009 at 8:50am

Hi Ali,
In most areas of the western world, the disposal of sharps is legislated and it's illegal to throw them in the trash. I don't know what the legislation is for your area, but you may want to check with your local health authority... and what the fine is, in case you get surprised one day! In some areas, they will take the Inset II in the regular trash, but you'd have to check.
Cheers...
Sue

Permalink Reply by J A Jones on November 20, 2009 at 7:03pm

Susi,
It gets crazier than ever in my area, Kentucky. Here I was told by the local and state regulators there are no rules about "diabetic sharps" generated in a home situation. Both the county and state folks went on to say it was most likely a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act to make a diabetic handle their home generated sharps in a manner different from home garbage. I agree the diabetic needs to protect the sanitation workers but mine goes out in milk jugs and diet pop bottles, etc. The "mushrooms" I bend the needle over and keep til the next site change so if there is a problem, I have the lot number of the infusion set I am wearing. Then it is on to the bin.
Jay

Permalink Reply by Kristen on December 3, 2009 at 3:19pm

What a brilliant idea to recycle them, It never dawned on me. Most plastics here are accepted, but I will double check it. Up till now I just covered and threw in regular trash...all the trash here gets burned so as long as it wont puncture a worker we can throw into reg trash. That is what the board of health nurse said.