Tips for Disposing of Home Healthcare Waste

Add a quick summary introduction. The header and text box can be deleted if it's not necessary

Click a link to jump to the section.

1. Topic 1 Example: Troubleshooting Beeping Concentrator
2. USE SOURCE CODE TO EDIT, two sections need updating. This section is for PRODUCT NAME
3. USE SOURCE CODE TO EDIT, two sections need updating. This section is for PRODUCT NAME
4. USE SOURCE CODE TO EDIT, two sections need updating. This section is for PRODUCT NAME
5. USE SOURCE CODE TO EDIT, two sections need updating. This section is for PRODUCT NAME
6. USE SOURCE CODE TO EDIT, two sections need updating. This section is for PRODUCT NAME
7. USE SOURCE CODE TO EDIT, two sections need updating. This section is for PRODUCT NAME
8. USE SOURCE CODE TO EDIT, two sections need updating. This section is for PRODUCT NAME
9. USE SOURCE CODE TO EDIT, two sections need updating. This section is for PRODUCT NAME
10. USE SOURCE CODE TO EDIT, two sections need updating. This section is for PRODUCT NAME

Instructions: This is so that a customer can jump to a section. If this section is not used, delete this element box, the header to this box, and delete all of the html element boxes with div id="X".

Providing healthcare at home creates waste, and you may wonder if you can throw it away just like anything else in your house.

Responsible home medical waste disposal not only protects you and your loved ones but also protects the community from potential exposure. Healthcare waste requires specific handling, and this blog is a practical guide with tips to set you up for success and manage waste responsibly.

What Are Sharps?

"Sharps" refers to any medical device with points or edges that can puncture or impale the skin. This includes needles, syringes, lancets, infusion sets, auto injectors, and more. Used sharps can be dangerous, as they can injure other people and spread diseases like HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and tetanus.

DON'T:

• Throw away loose, used sharps in the household trash
• Flush used sharps down the toilet
• Put used sharps in recycling

DO:

• Place any used sharps in a puncture-resistant container (laundry detergent, bleach bottle, or a sharps container)
• Seal the container with duct tape once it's ¾ full. Clearly label the container "DO NOT RECYCLE".
• Most states permit sharps disposal in a sealed, puncture-resistant container placed in the household trash (never in recycling), but some states have different rules for disposing of used sharps. Follow your state's guidelines for disposing of sharps. Check your state's disposal requirements here.

If your state does not permit sharps disposal in the household trash, there are other options available to you, including:

• Drop Boxes or Collection Points:
  Some communities have collection sites that accept filled sharps containers for free or for a small fee. These collection sites are usually in hospitals, health clinics, pharmacies, police or fire stations.
• Household Waste Collection Sites:
  Many cities have disposal sites that accept usual household waste, such as used batteries, oil, and paint. They may also accept the disposal of used sharps.
• Mail-Back Programs:
  A mail-back program is a paid service where they mail an FDA-approved sharps container to you. Once filled, you mail the container back in the provided package, and they safely dispose of it for you.
• Special Waste Pickup Services:
  Some local trash or public health departments offer a waste pickup service for filled sharps containers. They will pick up the container from your doorstep, either on a regular schedule they set or when you call to schedule a pickup.
• Sharps Destroying Products:
  You can use products for clipping, melting, or cutting off needles at home for safe disposal. Once destroyed, you can safely put the syringe in the household trash. Before using any of these needle-destroying products, first check that the product is FDA-approved.

How To Find Sharps Disposal Programs and Sites in Your Area:

Ask your doctor or your local pharmacist if they can dispose of used sharps or know of local disposal programs in your area. You can also call the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal at (800) 643-1643 or search for local disposal programs within your zipcode here.

Used wound supplies, such as dressings, bandages, gauze, tape, and more, are intended to absorb blood or other bodily fluids that can transmit germs and easily spreadable diseases to those who come in contact with them. When handling and disposing of medical bandage waste, keep the following in mind to prevent accidental exposure to you or others:

DON'T:

• Throw away soiled dressings with your bare hands
• Put loose, soiled dressings in the household trash
• Use a trash can that can be easily accessed by children or pets

DO:

• Wear gloves when handling soiled dressings or bandages
• Place soiled dressings in a sealed plastic bag before throwing them away
• Double-bag heavily soiled items that could drip or leak

Disposing of Face Masks and Medical Tubing

When removing a face mask, hold the mask by the elastic bands or the ties securing the mask around your ears. Do not touch the front of the mask. If you touch your gloves or mask while removing them, wash your hands immediately. Most disposable PPE, like gloves or masks, can be placed in the household trash if they are not contaminated with bodily fluids.

With medical tubing disposal, if any fluids or medications have passed through it, it is considered medical waste and should be disposed of in a biohazard bag or at a medical waste collection site.

If the tubing you want to discard is liquid-free or properly cleaned, drained, and rinsed, it can be placed in the household trash. Cutting tubing for safety is recommended to prevent potential misuse.

Do you need to dispose of expired or unneeded medications? The best way to safely dispose of medications is by using a drug take-back program.

If you don't have any drug take-back locations or drug mail-back programs available near you, you can check for your medication on the FDA's flush list.

Safe Flushing Guidelines:

DO NOT flush any medicine not on the flush list. Medicines on the flush list are on the list because they are generally sought after for potential misuse or abuse, and one dose can result in death if inappropriately taken.

Many medications include disposal instructions in the package insert. Follow those instructions exactly if you have them. Otherwise, you can follow these instructions to dispose of medications at home:

1. Remove medicine from its original container.
2. Combine medications with any unpleasant and/or inedible substance, like cat litter or old coffee grounds.
3. Put the mixture in a sealed container or a sealed plastic bag.
4. Throw away the sealed container.
5. Scratch out or black out any personal information on the original medicine container and packaging before disposing of it or recycling it.

When disposing of medical waste, place it in trash cans that are not easily accessible by children, pets, and any adults in your care who need supervision. If possible, use a separate trash can for any household medical waste.

When you transport medical waste from your home to a collection site, pack the waste in a sealed, puncture-resistant container with a lid and clearly label the container as a biohazard or as sharps, if applicable. If it's waste that could leak or drip, double-bag it before sealing it in a container.

Why is it so important to properly dispose of healthcare waste? Because it can impact the environment and the health of others. Drugs and medication flushed down the toilet in homes with septic tanks can seep into groundwater. In communities connected to wastewater treatment plants, drugs flushed down the toilet can go through the treatment system and move into rivers and lakes.

Every state has different rules and regulations for discarding healthcare waste. Be sure to check your state's specific regulations by calling your local health department or local waste management before disposing of healthcare waste.

The FDA has approved the general use of puncture-resistant containers, such as detergent bottles, as sealed containers for infectious medical waste.

However, high-quality, medical-grade sharps containers are the best way to properly store and dispose of healthcare waste, as they are designed to prevent exposure to infectious materials.

Biohazard bags are made of strong, tear- and puncture-resistant plastic to securely hold hazardous materials. Investing in medical-grade disposal options can help protect you and your loved ones when disposing of potentially infectious materials. Vitality Medical carries a wide variety of high-quality medical products from trusted manufacturers, intended for hospitals and home healthcare settings.