[Cobra]

Hi all,

Quick question. I have a sharps bin and Im about to use some needles for teh first time; was wondering whats the correct way to disspose of them now a days 

Thanks

[JulieS]

I take mine to my vets and they dispose of them.

[little blue]

ask your council - there is may be a charge.
Ask your vet or local GP surgery if they will take your sealed sharps bin

I took our needles back to the vet to dispose of

Hth

[little blue]

JulieS, you must type faster than me (that's not saying much, my cats type faster than me!!)

[Fleecewife]

It takes an age (years) to fill the sharps bin, as long as you don't put the whole syringe in.  When it is eventually full your vet will dispose of it for a small fee.  Interestingly I seem to be the only person in this area who has ever asked to have this done.  I wonder what everyone else does with their sharps 

[waterhouse]

Our vet supplied the sharps bin which included disposal in the price

[ambriel]

Never thought about it before, but I've got a small pile of used needles since having to dose Bella with penicillin last week. I'll maybe ask at our local GPs surgery if they'll deal with them for me.

I know they're supposed to be disposable but is there any reason why they can't be used again if they're boiled first to kill bacteria?

[HappyHippy]

I know they're supposed to be disposable but is there any reason why they can't be used again if they're boiled first to kill bacteria?

They'll not be as sharp, so may bend when you try to use them, I'd get some new ones, they're only pennies each normally 
Karen 

[ambriel]

Yes, I was planning on ordering a batch from Fearings but it seems such as waste. Presumably the re-usable needles are heat treated or something so they remain sharp longer.

Gary

[Fleecewife]

Boiling wouldn't clean the inside of the needles which will have small amounts of flesh from the previously injected animals in them as well as all sorts of pathogens.  The re-useable needles can be horribly dirty and festering, then people wonder why their animals get abscesses and so on at injection sites.  As HH says - disposable needles are very cheap so it really is a false economy to try to re-use them. 
If you don't have a sharps bin you can use a jam jar or a tin with a screw top lid just to keep them safely away from accidents until you can get a bin.

[SallyintNorth]

If you don't have a sharps bin you can use a jam jar or a tin with a screw top lid just to keep them safely away from accidents until you can get a bin.

It won't affect most of you, I guess, but if you are Farm (or Scotch) Assured, they don't like you to have a glass jar (in case it breaks) nor one that can be opened - they advise glueing the screw-top lid on and punching a hole in it to drop the needles through.

I used to use an empty Diet Coke tin, but they didn't like that as they thought children might try to drink the Diet Coke. 

They can't complain about a vet-supplied or NHS sharps bin - but all the ones I have seen have a lid that opens!

[Cobra]

Thanks everyone very helpful vets sound a good move.

[ellisr]

If you don't have a sharps bin you can use a jam jar or a tin with a screw top lid just to keep them safely away from accidents until you can get a bin.

It won't affect most of you, I guess, but if you are Farm (or Scotch) Assured, they don't like you to have a glass jar (in case it breaks) nor one that can be opened - they advise glueing the screw-top lid on and punching a hole in it to drop the needles through.

I used to use an empty Diet Coke tin, but they didn't like that as they thought children might try to drink the Diet Coke. 

They can't complain about a vet-supplied or NHS sharps bin - but all the ones I have seen have a lid that opens!

That is a good point as my sharps bin lid opens (pulls off) I never really thought about it before as I don't have bairns running round anymore

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

The sharps bin we use (and supply) has a rotating lid, you just trap the needle in it, pull it off the syringe, let it fall inside then rotate to close the top.  Simples.....

And I agree - needles are pennies - get new ones each time.

[tizaala]

Makes you wonder how we survived childhood school injections when you all lined up for your jab with the same needle, the thought of all the other kids flesh being squirted into your arm makes you cringe even now.