Sharps Bin

A sharps bin is a specially designed box with a lid, used to dispose of used needles, syringes, lancets and similar medical supplies. Used needles can cause injuries and pass on infections, so they shouldn’t go in household or recycling bins, or into other containers such as drinks cans or bottles.

Put needles into the bin straight after use, without bending, breaking or re-capping them, and don’t try to take them out again. Fill it only up to the fill line, then close the lid securely and keep it out of reach of children and pets.

How a full bin is collected depends on where you live, so ask your community pharmacy or local council.

A sharps bin is used to dispose of used needles and other sharp medical items safely, such as syringes, injection pen needles and lancets from finger-prick devices. Keeping them in a bin with a lid helps protect you, your family and anyone else who could come into contact with them from injury and infection.

It’s only for sharps, so don’t put other rubbish in it, such as tablets, batteries or dressings. Used needles shouldn’t go in any other bin.

Used needles, including the needles from injection pens, and used syringes go in a sharps bin, as do lancets from finger-prick devices and sharps from insulin pumps. Put them in as soon as you’ve used them, and don’t take syringes apart first.

Other items don’t belong in a sharps bin, such as tablets, batteries, razors, dressings, empty vials and injection pens with the needle removed. If you’re unsure about something, or how to dispose of an empty pen, ask your pharmacist.