a household guide for alabamiansadem.alabama.gov/programs/land/landforms/sharpsmgmt... · handling...
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• Preventinjury,illnessandpollutionbyfollowingthesesimplestepstodisposeofsharpneedlesandcontaminatedmaterialsusedwhenadministeringhealthcareathome.Keepyou,yourfamily,andsanitationworkerssafe.
• Placeneedles,syringes,lancetsandothercontaminatedsharpsinanypuncture-resistant,resealable,disposablehouseholdcontainer(examplesincludeanemptybleachbottle,laundrydetergentbottle,ormetalcoffeecan).Chooseacontainerthatismadeofplasticormetalandonethathasasmallopeningsonoonecanstickhisorherhandintoit.Donotuseclearplasticorglasscontainers.
• UsinganEASYTOREADmarker,writeonthecontainer–“DONOTRECYCLE.”UsedneedlesandothercontaminatedsharpsareNOTrecyclable.
• Donotrecap,purposelybend,break,orotherwisemanipulateneedlesbeforeinsertingthemintothedisposalcontainer.Dropallpartsintothecontainer.
• Onceyourcontainerisfullofusedneedles,fillthecontainerwithonepartbleachsolutionandtenpartsofwater.Allowsolutiontosoakfor20minutes;thisactionwillsterilizeyourusedsharps.Then,pourthesolutionintothesinkandsealthecapwithtapebeforeplacingthedisposalcontainerintothegarbage.Useheavy-dutytape(suchasducttape).
• Disposeofthecontainerinyourregularhouseholdgarbage.
• Besuretokeepallcontainerswithdiscardedsharpsoutofreachofchildrenandpets.
• Placeanysoiledbandages,dialysismachinefilters,disposablesheets,clothing,andmedicalglovesseparatelyinsecurelyfastenedplasticbagsbeforeplacingthemalongwithyourothergarbage.
• Expiredornolongerusedmedicinesshouldbeplacedinthegarbageintheiroriginalcontainers.
• Emptymedicationcontainersshouldbeplacedinthegarbageorrecycledifyourrecyclingcenteracceptsthem.
• Donotdisposeofmedicationdownadrainortoilet.
For more information call the Alabama Department of Environmental Management: 334-271-7700
A Household Guide for Alabamians:Handling and Disposal of Home Medical WasteHAzArDs:• Medicalsharpsimproperlythrownintohouseholdgarbage
canpokethroughgarbagebagscausinginjurytosanitationworkersandothers,includingchildrenandhousekeepers,whomaycomeincontactwiththehouseholdgarbage.Usedneedlescantransmitseriousdiseases.
• Medicationsflusheddownthetoiletorpoureddownadrainmayadverselyaffectthefunctionofaseptictankandcanharmfishandothermarineorganisms.
•Unwantedorexpiredmedicinesorpharmaceuticalsmaybeharmfultochildrenandadults.
• Nevershareusedneedles.
rECOMMENDATIONs FOr DIsPOsAL OF NEEDLEs Or “sHArPs”