Sharps Disposal Boston: what to do with used needles and syringes
Thousands of Boston residents as well as a majority of the health care providers in this city use sharps(needles, syringes, and other potentially sharp medical tools) to treat a range of symptoms. Large institutions and private services often opt for a medical waste disposal service provider like ours, but people who use theirs at home rarely have that luxury. You might be wondering what your options are. Sharps disposal in Boston is highly regulated and thankfully there are many places to drop yours off. Here’s what to do with your used needles and syringes.
Disposing of home medical waste
Many patients wonder if they even have to dispose of their medical waste, and if so, which objects must be disposed of properly. It’s safe to say that if you use any potentially sharp object(including glass vials) to treat conditions at home such as:
● Diabetes
● Severe allergies
● MS
● Or arthritis
Any device designed to or capable of puncturing the human skin that is also used in the treatment of home medical conditions MUST be stored and disposed of properly according to Massachusetts law in order to minimize the risks of puncture wounds and the spread of disease.
How and where to dispose of sharps waste
All sharps must be stored in a proper sharps container once they’ve been used. Any contaminated medical waste that is not is considered in violation of the law. You can buy a container on the web, at a medical supply store, or from a pharmacy, and they are usually very affordable. Once they’ve been used, simply toss them out.
Once the container is nearly full you have two options:
A) Mail-back programs- people looking for sharps disposal in Boston often participate in mail-back programs that allow you to seal your waste and send it via mail to proper sites. This is simple but often more time-consuming.
B) Drop-off- manual drop off is another method of getting rid of the waste. Sharps disposal in Boston is much easier than many other cities due to the number of locations across the city. With locations around town including pharmacies, public aid groups, health care facilities, and governmental public health offices, there is sure to be a location close to you.
For a comprehensive list of drop-off locations click HERE.
Sharps disposal in Boston is convenient, safe, and required by law. Make sure to always use a certified container(not the trash or recycling), and to always either mail-back or drop the waste off. If you are a commercial entity or public health institution, then using a professional waste removal service is the preferred option due to the convenience and dependability of medical waste removal companies like ours.