Proper Needle Disposal on Campus

Improper management of discarded needles and other sharps can pose a health risk to the public, custodial workers and waste workers. For example, discarded needles may expose waste workers to potential needle stick injuries and potential infection when containers break open inside garbage trucks or needles are mistakenly sent to recycling facilities. Custodial and housekeepers also risk injury if loose sharps poke through plastic garbage bags. Used needles can transmit serious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis.

Campus Students, Faculty, Staff and Visitors are asked to re-cap exposed needles/self-injectors and keep in safe personal areas.  These personal items are to be disposed of at home or through any of the several types of safe disposal programs for sharps materials. Instead of placing sharps in the trash, self-injectors are encouraged to use any of these alternative disposal methods:

• Needles in jarDrop Box or Supervised Collection Sites (Sharps users can take their own sharps containers filled with used needles to appropriate collections sites: doctors' offices, hospitals, pharmacies, health departments, or fire stations. Services are free or have a nominal fee. Check with your pharmacist or other health care provider for availability in your area.)
•     Mail-Back Programs (Sharps users place their used sharps in special containers and return the container by mail to a collection site for proper disposal. This service usually requires a fee. Fees vary, depending on the size of the container. Check with your health care provider, pharmacist, yellow pages, or search the Internet using keywords "sharps mail back.")
•     Syringe Exchange Programs (Sharps users can safely exchange used needles for new needles. Contact the North American Syringe Exchange Network at (253) 272-4857.)
•     At-Home Needle Destruction Devices (Several manufacturers offer products that allow you to destroy used needles at home. These devices sever, burn, or melt the needle, rendering it safe for disposal. Check with your pharmacist or search the internet using keywords "sharps disposal devices." The prices of these devices vary according to product type and manufacturer.)

Protect yourself and others by reading about Safe Options for Home-Needle Disposal