How To Throw Omit Used
Insulin Syrincfes and
Lancets At Home
A Booklet For Yotmcj People WitIi
Diabetes And Their Families
-------
A Note To Adults
This booklet is for young people with insulin-dependent diabetes and for you.
People living in the United States use more than one billion (1,000,000,000) syringes,
needles, and lancets each year to take care of their diabetes. This booklet shows you
the safe way to handle and throw out used insulin syringes and lancets at home.
It's simple. The easy directions on the following pages show you how to protect your
family and waste handlers from injury—and help keep the environment dean and safe!
While 5/ou are reading this booklet, keep in mind that your state, county, or town may
have special rules about how to dispose of syringes and lancets. They may also have a
special collection center for these items. You should askyour doctor, diabetes educator,
or community representative how to find out about any rules or collection programs in
your area.
-------
Y
We use lancets
to test our blood
sugar level!
We use syringes to
take insulin!
People with insulin-dependent diabetes know
how important syringes and lancets are for
controlling their diabetes and staying healthy.
Most people with insulin-dependent diabetes use
syringes and lancets every day. But what do you
do with them when you're done?
Like anything else we throw out, lancets and syringes
need to be disposed of properly. Otherwise they can end
up in places they don't belong, like beaches. And because they
have very sharp, pointy ends, they can hurt people by accident, like the
person who collects your garbage, someone in your family, or even you!
But there's a simple way you can help protect people and the environment. It's quick and easy!
Just follow these TWO steps
-------
Put A Lid On If!
After you've given yourself an insulin shot, put your
syringe directly inl o a strong plastic or metal container
with a tight cap or lid. After you use a lancet,you can put
it into the same container too.
Keep your container
out of reach of small
children and pets!
Don't try to bend,
break, or put the
cap back on your
needle...you might
hurt yourself!
Keep your container in the s
usually have your insulin sho
blood sugar.
-------
Container Do's
The best containers to use are
those that:
Many household items
make good containers!
ame room you
tor test your
Are made of strong plastic, so
needles can't poke through.
Have a small opening on top with a cap or lid that screws on
tightly to prevent spills.
Are not recyclable in your community. Put recyclable contain-
ers backinto use whenever possible!
Some examples might include a plastic bleach jug, plas-
tic liquid detergent bottle, or plastic milkjug. You
can use a coffee can, too. But when it gets full,
close the lid tightly and seal it with strong
tape.
Container Don'ts
Don't use glass containers (they can break), or lightweight
plastic containers.
Don't use any container that will be returned to a store.
> If you use a recyclable container to dispose of syringes and
lancets, be sure it doesn't end up in the recycling bin by mis-
take. These items are not recyclable, and could affect the safe
and effective recycling of other items in the bin.
-------
Pitch In!
When the container is full, tightly secure the lid and reinforce it with heavy-duty tape before
throwing it in the trash. Be sure not to put it in the recycling bin.
-------
1 Put your syringes and lancets into a strong _ or
(CLIPAST)
container and tighten the _ _.
(LATME) (DLI)
2 When it gets full, reinforce the lid with _ _ and throw
(PETA)
your_ _ into the _ !
(RENTANOIC) (SMART)
CUT OUT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE AND KEEP IT NEAR YOUR CONTAINER AS A REMINDER.
l»
Step t:
Put A Lid On It!
After you use a syringe or a lancet, put it
directly into a strong plastic or metal
container with a tight cap or lid.
Pitch In!
When the container is full and tightly sealed
with heavy-duty tape, throw it out in the
trash. Don't put this container in your
recycling bin.
-------
Congratulations!
Now you know how to handle and throw
out used insulin syringes and lancets safely.
Pass It On!
Do you know others with insulin-dependent
diabetes? Tell them whatyou've learned about han-
dling and safe disposal of used syringes and lancets.
By spreading the word, you can help others keep the
environment clean and safe!
ar additional copies of this booklet, please call the RCRA Hotline
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern time.
The national toll-free number is 800 424-9346; for the hearing impaired it is TDD 800 553-7672,
In Washington, DC, the number is 703 412-9810; TDD 703 412-3323.
This booklet may be photocopied.
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA530-K-99-008
September 1999
www.epa.gov
Printed on paper that contains at least 30 percent postconsumer fiber.
------- |