Are there any special arrangements for hypodermic needles produced in the home?
Sharps bins can be obtained on prescription (FP10 prescription form) and can be returned to your doctor for disposal when full. There is also a duty on local authorities to collect and dispose of household generated waste including clinical/sharps waste from households. However, collection of clinical/sharps waste does not arise until a person requests such a service. Local authorities may then levy a reasonable charge on the waste holder for the collection of that waste. On no account should soft drink cans, plastic bottles or similar containers be used for the disposal of needles, since these could present serious hazards to staff if they were disposed of in domestic waste.
