Sharps Bins
Disposable needles are widely used in chemistry laboratories for transferring small amounts of reagents / solvents. The low cost make the use of disposable needles particularly attractive, however, as they are designed for injection beneath the skin in a medical setting, they pose a significant hazard to health if not disposed of correctly.
- Disposable needles should NEVER be placed in domestic or general laboratory waste bins.
- Disposable needles must be placed in a sharps bin immediately after use.
Preparing a Sharps Bin
- Ensure the lid is pressed down firmly until it “snaps” onto the body of the container.
- This may require considerable force so is best carried out when the sharps bin is empty.
Removal of Disposable Needles from Syringe
- Push-fit needles can be removed from a syringe by using the notches on the sharps bin lid.
- Twist-fit disposable needles (luer-lock) can be removed with a pair of tweezers.
- If you cannot remove the needle from the syringe safely, both the needle and syringe can be placed in the sharps bin.
Disposal Procedure
When the sharps container is full:
- Close the sliding compartment within the slid until it clicks shut
- Ensure the lid is securely attached to the body of the container
- Ensure the outside of the container is clean and free of chemical residues
- Write the research group name on the outside of the container
- Deliver the sharps bin to the sharps waste drop-off point. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you need the code to access the cupboard.
