Pen disposal

[mounjarorocks]

Might seem a silly question but how do you dispose of your used pens?

Do I just throw in the rubbish bin or are they somehow recyclable?

And what if some medication is left in them?

I'm sure they can go in the rubbish bin.

What a massive waste of resources. Is there no recycling program?

Pretty sure they go in a sharps container

I use a sharps container for the needles and just chuck the empty pen in the plastics recycling bin.

Sharps container for the needles and bin for the pen.

Yeah but what do you do with the sharps container?

Council clinical waste collection. Or take to a local pharmacy.

If you go to your local council page and search for clinical waste. Sharps container should come up.

I've presumed it's the same as disposing of old/used insulin viles and have put them into my sharps bin. When my child was diagnosed type 1 we were told medical waste, viles, old disposable pens and any used test strips all go into the sharps bin too.
It is different in different areas but we have to organise collection by our local council. They collect the sharps bin and then provide a new one. There are no pharmacies that will take sharps bins where I am.

@needtonamechangeforthis1 council don't collect/dispose of clinical waste - this is arranged with a private company via GP etc. as it comes out of their budget. Apharmacy often won't take full sharps boxes either

If you've gone private then SRCL or similar can collect but for a cost

In Wales it's not council. It's all to do with money

That's not true where I am. I literally organise them for my clients on a weekly basis!

Your GP may well be able to request it on your behalf but it the council who provide the service

For Wegovy/Saxenda: https://order-form.pen-cycle.co.uk/

@Blushingm just seen your in wales which must operate differently. In England it's the councils who provide the service

I took my sharps bin to my local pharmacy and they refused to take it. GP wouldn't take it either.

Our LA website says we can dispose of at our Waste Management/recycling centre

I am only on my second pen and have kept the first just in case I need to show it when I want to change suppliers 😁

I have read different things - either in the sharps bin or in the normal bin. I did notice a Wegovy pen recycling box on the counter in boots the other day so maybe they will do the same with MJ🤷‍♀️

I looked on my local council website and they will collect full sharps bins 👍