In many cases, local communities establish disposal rules. So first, check with your town or trash removal company on what they recommend for the safe disposal of used insulin syringes. A good place to call may be your local health department. The following guidelines may be helpful:
Never throw loose pen needles into the trash. If you are disposing of your own pen needle, clip the needle with a needle-clipping device such as the BD Safe-Clip™ needle storage device, which you can order at your pharmacy.
Never handle someone else's pen needle unless a healthcare professional trains you in proper injection technique and disposal. If you inject someone else or dispose of their pen needle, use extreme caution to avoid needlesticks, which can transmit serious and even grave infections.
Never recap or destroy a needle that has been used by someone else. Immediately after the injection, place the used pen needle in a safe container.
Put the used pen needle into a BD home sharps container, or check with your local sanitation or health department regarding rules on properly disposing of used pen needles and sharps containers. Keep this container away from children. When the container is full, seal the lid securely and dispose of it properly.
Never dispose of used pen needles or other medical waste in recyclable trash.