on disposing of used SHARPS (lanclets)

I wrote this perhaps 8 years ago:

I have been saving my used lancets either in a large “safe” container at work or a small ex-pill container at home.  I filled it completely and ended up with four used lancets next to it before I finally got around to disposing of them.  To be on the safe side, I emptied the container into a grocery store plastic bag.  From past experience, I knew that I could take them to “Paul”, the medical clinic pharmacist and he would put them in the bio-waste burn bag.

I walked in and told the clerk “I’m here to leave some used lancets for disposal in your biological hazardous waste container.  Paul said I could drop them off.”

In the past (one time actually), I took in the container and “Paul” disposed of them with no problem.  This time was different.

“Paul” walked around a stack of stuff and said “do you have a container?”

“No.”

“We can order one for you.”

“Well, I really don’t want to spend $12 for a bottle that might get thrown away.”

“Ok, I’ll try to put them in my bag.”  Pause while he took my plastic bag and obviously tried then: “My container is too full.  Why don’t you take it out front and ask someone?” 

I walked “out front” and went to the family clinic and then asked a nurse there is I could dispose of my used lancets?  She said “follow me” and was leading me to an empty examining room where I was obviously expected to empty the bag into their container one at a time.

I got lucky, our family nurse (actually, the nurse working for our family MD) took the plastic bag from me and went off to properly dispose of them.

I was fairly pissed off after this happened but it is four days later and I’m just a little miffed.

The State of Kansas forbids anyone from dumping lancets or used syringes into the garbage.  You’re not allowed to put used stuff into plastic or glass bottles or containers for fear they may break and a trash collector could accidentally poke himself. 

If you can’t shit can these items, then I’d expect

1. The state of Kansas to provide collection places

   it doesn’t...

2. Pharmacies to provide disposal points...

   With the exception of the clinic pharmacy, no one in Dodge City does...

3. The Dodge City Clinic pharmacy

   They have but I’m beginning to wonder if their policy is changing...

4. The clinic

   They still do if you ask the right people (the nurses!)...

5. The local hospital

   I haven’t asked but past experience with the Dodge City Hospital has convinced me that it would be a waste of time to ask...

I probably should not feel this way but I’m tempted to try the clinic pharmacy again the next time my container is filled and if they don’t take it, I’ll get a plastic container (i.e. a coffee container) and fill it.  Then, maybe I’ll take it to the hazardous waste site at the city dump and simply leave it at the clinic.  I’m too law abiding to shit can the container in our garbage or a local dumpster...

Perhaps it is more accurate to say I am afraid of getting in legal trouble if I were caught shit canning needles.  I don’t know why I am given there are hundreds of diabetes in the surrounding area who are probably casually disposing of their used needles...

Since then, I have  been filling a plastic coffee can. I recently filled it and have a second one from Kathie's office coffee mess.