How to Dispose of Sharps in Your State

	Put used sharps in a heavy-duty, plastic container. See: List of acceptable containers. Loose sharps should never be thrown into the trash or toilet.
	When the container is about three-quarters (¾) full, put the lid on, seal it with duct tape, and label: DO NOT RECYCLE.
	Put the sealed plastic container in the household trash - do not recycle! If a trash collector is reluctant to collect a red sharps container, refer them to your state waste agency.

• If you have a needle clipper, it can be disposed of according to your state or local regulations when full. See: More information on needle clippers.
• Sharps that retract after use, or are very small, should be disposed of like all other sharps.

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At this time, SafeNeedleDisposal.org knows of no known community-sponsored sharps disposal programs in the state of Connecticut.

The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection recommends checking with your supplier (i.e. your physician, local hospital, or pharmacy) to see if they are willing to accept properly packaged used sharps. Some companies even offer mail-back disposal services to their customers. To properly dispose of sharps: 1. Seal them in rigid, puncture-resistant containers that you can't see through (i.e. bleach or detergent bottles, coffee cans, etc.); 2. Label the containers "Do Not Recycle;" and 3. Reinforce containers with heavy-duty tape before throwing them in your household trash. DO NOT: Throw loose needles in the trash; Flush needles down the toilet; Place needles in soda bottles, cans, or glass containers; or put sharps containers in the recycling bin. The Connecticut DEEP has issued the following guidelines for household-generated sharps: Click Here to Open

State guidelines provided courtesy of NeedyMeds via SafeNeedleDisposal.org.