Disposal of Sharps - Needles

[MomInDialysis]

We have a full container of "Sharps" that need to be disposed of and our clinic says they do not take the sharps there.  How about the rest of you.  Where do you dispose of the "Sharps".  We were told in the beginning by the Representative at Davita that the red container could be returned there once a month when we came in for our monthly visit, but the Lead Nurse, our nurse, says we can not return them there.  What do you do.

Another question.  We receive all of our product from Nexstage in sealed boxes, complete cases.  The supplies from Davita are distributed in handfulls.  We get boxes of gloves sealed and complete, 1 at at time, and syringes are usually in a sealed box.  Tape, gauze pads and bandages are a single box at a time and a roll or 2 of tape at a time.  We feel like beggars when we ask for More.  How about the rest of you.  How do you receive you supplies from the clinic.

We love the home dialysis.  Mom is feeling wonderful again and is almost back to her normal self.  Can't thank you all enough for encouraging us to do this. 

I would love some feedback and suggestions for the above question.

[texasstyle]

not a dialysis patient, but I had to use injections for a year. I was given a sharps container, but no where to rid it. After several attempts I was told to place them in a coffee can, duct tape them, and dispose of them in the trash. I didn't really like the idea. Dr.s offices etc..  have to pay people to take sharps from them and properly dispose of them that's why most don't "accept" extra sharps. Wierd.... Other suggestions: find out if you're local hospital will accept them, or try seeing if an area "free-type" clinic will accept them. It can't hurt to ask.

[jbeany]

Second vote for duct taping the sharps container and putting in the regular trash - that's what I had to do as well.

[Desert Dancer]

What the heck else are you supposed to do with the sharps containers? Our DaVita clinic has us bring ours in whenever they're full, and we just put them next to the giant in-center sharps container. You would think they'd have a consistent policy; it may be that your nurse is just ignorant of policy if that's the case. Maybe contact DaVita's head office and try to get something in writing regarding this and present it to her?

I put in a supply order once a month, which includes everything except test strips, filters, Renalyn, and Epogen (all things I only need to replenish very, very occasionally). We are always very well-stocked; my prescription allows me, for example, to order 5  boxes of gloves every month and 1 box each of 3 different tapes every month. Of course, NXstage obviously does things differently from Fresenius.

[looneytunes]

We are also supported through a Fresenius Center and we take our full sharps containers there for disposal.  Our supplies are ordered monthly and a prescription is on file with the number of boxes of gloves, tape, etc that we are allowed.   I have a supply cabinet here at home that I keep it all in.  Heparin and Epo we get at our monthly clinic visit and there is always a full month's supply given. 

I also suggest you contact corporate DaVita to see what they say as far as the policy on supplies/sharps.  I know others who are supported in home dialysis by DaVita and don't have the troubles you are having. 

Best of luck to you on this. 

[HouseOfDialysis]

Another vote for the duct tape version of events.

I always use my son's heavy duty plastic milk containers. I fill them up with needles, and seal it with duct tape like a mummy and toss it in my curb unit. Perhaps not the best idea, but it was the one I was given.

[kporter85db]

My Fresenius clinic told me to bring the full container in to them and they would dispose of it for us. I haven't filled it up yet though to test the policy. But I have no reason to doubt them. They really have been good to us so far.

[jbeany]

My unit also suggested bleach or laundry soap bottles - ones that weren't see-through, specifically.

[Marina]

If you  have  a Walgreens  drug  store in your  area,  ask  them  if  they're a  "drop  off  station"   
My  sister has  been  picking   empty  red  sharp   containers  and  dropping  full  ones  off  at  Walgreens.
Also  you  can  call the  police  Dept,   or  firehouse  in your  area  or  your local  waste  management  company  (garbage  company),  they  can  suggest  a  drop  off  location.
 

[billybags]

We take ours to the unit, took one yesterday. Gave them a full one and they gave us a new one. Our chemist or pharmacy  will also take them. Forgot to say we live in the UK we take all the shi*

[*kana*]

Happy to hear that I'm not the only one that throws it in the trash.  I was going to post that thinking I was a bad bad person, but I guess not.  I went through a bunch of hassle trying to find a place to take my containers and get fed up and just tossed them in the regular trash.  I do the same with my old expired drugs. 

[Adam_W]

I've always taken my full sharps boxes to the clinic and they throw it in the incinerator with all the rest. The rest of my used supplies can just be thrown in the trash.

[MomInDialysis]

It is very interesting, the number of ways you all have solved the disposal problems.  It is very surprising how many are disposing of them in the trash.
We did find a disposal site that takes in all forms of medical waste for residential users.  There is no charge and we can take it to 4 different sites, based on the date, on any given weekend.  If you live in Alameda County in California (USA), you can take it to one of these sites provided by Waste Management.  It is free for residential users.
Thank you to all of you who shared with me and gave me insight and direction. AS ALWAYS YOU ROCK 

[mcclane]

for us, the hospital gave us a yellow sharps container.  once it is full, we bring the container back to the unit and they dispose of it for us.

[lmunchkin]

Momindialysis, I am so glad to hear how home hemo has really made your mom feel better. She is getting better cleaning.  I think it puts them in a whole different mindset. Going to the centers was always so stressful to me (caregiver).  I worried everytime I took J in. When I would pick him up, mostly late getting done, he would be so out of it. It was like watching a drunk trying to do the Sobriety test.  It was pitiful for me to watch, and never really understood the reasons behind it.  But once we got to doing it again at home, we were immediately releaved, and he hadnt even been D yet!

I think its the "dictating of rules" that the incenter would pull.  Its like a concentration camp. Do this!  Do that!  No to this and no to that!  They know you have to have it to live and they exploit that power, over that fact!

But some wise up, and realize their care is just "their care" and work to see their means are met.  That can only be done in their own enviroment, "HOME".  You can relax, no pressures at all.  Watch Tv. Go online. Eat a meal or snack all while you dialysis for 3 to 4 hours 5 to 6 times a week.  There is no hassel to doing it 5-6 times a week, cause you are at home.  You don't have to go anywhere to do anything, you just do it in the comforts of your home.  It is soooo much easier on not only the patient but family members also.

Incenter doesnt allow anyone in to sit with patient, but in the home, anyone can come in and sit.  It makes family feel apart of the process like they are contributing (even though they arent) or are a part!

Just makes better sense to me! So happy MID, that you are seeing the advantages of your mom doing it at home.  It takes commitment, but so does a marriage period!!!  Its the same for people who go into hospitals to get surgery and then get better. Well, you don't get good rest in the hospital, but at home you can recupe.  Being home means everything to everyone!


lmunchkin

 

[jazzin11]

I contacted our local waste management company today. Turns out they are a subsidiary of a national company, the largest in the nation, B.F.I. The answer was the same as they told me seventeen years ago. They told me if the sharps were in one of the approved sharps containers (I buy mine at Walgreens for $4.00), to simply use the provided seal and dispose of with the normal trash. They also said the milk jug worked well if I wanted to do that. No one in our house drinks milk, so the sharps container is the way I go.  I really believe this is a simple and safe way to dispose of them, and have been doing this since 1995.

John (jazzin11)

[JLM]

Ya know gallon water jugs are the same as milk jugs

[lmunchkin]

I take my sharps to Nephs office or clinic.  They have given me no problems with doing so.

lmunch

[Joe]

I"m with lilmunch, I take my sharps to the clinic and they make them go away. No muss, no fuss.