Disposing of sharps [Archive]

anxiao

17th Mar 2020, 18:51

I am in London temporarily for medical work and am generating a sharp a day on injections. They go into a standard sharps box and I was wondering what procedures you have in the UK for disposing of a full box. The local pharmacy won't take them, nor will the doctor, and I was advised to "contact your local council."

I am quite happy to "Take my rubbish home with me," to coin a phrase but does anyone know of a simple procedure? Tying it to a brick into the Thames is not an option for me... :-)

Thanks

Alsacienne

17th Mar 2020, 18:56

I believe a local doctors' surgery or health centre might have taken them but in the current situation better 'taking your rubbish home with you', in an appropriately marked container and declared at airport security, might be the best option.

Buswinker

17th Mar 2020, 21:40

The responsibility does indeed fall to local councils- if you can work out which one covers where you are I believe you can phone them and they come pick it up

eta: this is SW but there will be a similar procedure elsewhere in london
https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Sharps-Disposal-in-South-West-London.pdf

anxiao

17th Mar 2020, 21:49

Thank you both. Buswinker your link is going to work for me as I am round the corner from one of those community pharmacies. Very many thanks for your weblink.

I never cease to be amazed at the knowledge base of pprune.

Blues&twos

22nd Mar 2020, 13:14

Not all UK councils take clin8cal waste/sharps. Ours doesn't - their website advises contacting local GP surgery.

Loose rivets

23rd Mar 2020, 01:40

I got given a bundle of syringes in the 70's. I used them for oiling all sorts, and when the oil went off I touched the tips on a grindstone before disposal.

anxiao

6th Apr 2020, 20:31

Today I dropped my sharps box off at The Kensington and Chelsea council offices at Pembroke Street. The whole procedure from first phone call, form download, and site drop off was the British council system at its best. Polite helpful staff, good directions and friendly execution. Whilst the country is shut down and most offices are empty. I'm impressed. When you have lived and worked abroad in various countries as a Brit it is so reassuring that the old country still does a lot of things very well.

Now I have to get back to trying to get a flight home to my adopted country. That bit is not so easy...