What’s the best way to dispose of used autoinjectors after I give myself a shot?

The safest way to dispose of a used autoinjector is to place it in a sharps container right after your injection, then dispose of the sealed container according to local guidelines. Never throw a loose autoinjector directly in the trash or recycling.

The good news: Safe disposal is pretty straightforward once you know the basics. Here’s what Taylor Barteau, a pharmacy compliance & regulatory specialist with Novant Health Pharmacy, recommends:

• Inject as directed. Take the cap off and give yourself the shot as directed by your prescriber.
• Don’t put the cap back on. Recapping could cause a needlestick injury.
• Place it point-first in a sharps container right after your injection. An FDA-cleared sharps container is best. If you don’t have a sharps container, ask your pharmacy; some provide them at no cost. You can also purchase sharps containers at many big-box retailers.
• No sharps container? Make your own. Find a heavy-duty plastic container with a tight-fitting lid that will resist puncture. Most laundry detergent or fabric softener jugs will work. Milk jugs, soda bottles, thin plastic bottles or glass containers won’t work. In big, visible letters, label the container: “Home Medical Sharps — Not for Recycling.”
• Store it safely. Keep the container upright, where kids and pets can’t reach it.
• Seal it before it’s full. Close the container when it’s two-thirds to three-fourths full, or when you’ve reached the labeled fill line on a sharps container. For a sharps container, you’ll typically press down or twist to seal; seal a DIY container with heavy tape.
• Dispose of it properly. In North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia, you can often put a securely sealed sharps container in with your household trash (never recycling). But check with your local waste authority, since rules may vary by county. Find a disposal site near you.