Recycling urinary catheters?

December 17, 2009 10:51 AM

Can I recycle used urinary catheters?

I have a neurogenic bladder and pee through disposable plastic tubes. Yep, it's about as much fun as it sounds :) Anyway, I use 10-12 disposable catheters a day, and it all adds up to a big pile of ugly garbage. I'd like to recycle the catheters, but I wonder if they're considered medical waste and shouldn't be tossed in with my plastics and bottles. (By the way, I've tried reusable catheters, and let's just say that things didn't quite work out.) In case it matters, the brand is Mentor non-latex disposable catheters.

posted by wetpaint to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

Do they have one of those recycle numbers printed on them? I think without that, they won't recycle it, since they don't know what type of plastic it is. If it does have a number, than that's a good sign to go ahead and recycle (maybe wash it out first). If your worried about the bacteria from urine, it probably won't survive the recycle process - worse things go in there like old milk jugs and food encrusted containers. If you have some sort of contagious disease with a urine vector than maybe consider it medical waste :)
posted by stbalbach at 11:16 AM on December 17, 2009

Yes, I'm pretty sure this is medical waste and you're not supposed to do that (I'm a nurses assistant).
posted by crabintheocean at 11:34 AM on December 17, 2009

Even if the contaminants don't survive the recycling process they could pose a danger to the people handling/transporting the recycled materials. I would not do this.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:35 AM on December 17, 2009

Where I live urine is treated as a biological risk product and undergoes the same tracking and disposal procedures as other tissue or blood samples, which would make these medical waste. The reason isn't the urine, it's because cells slough off and end up in the urine (and yeah, possibilities of bacteria but they're unlikely whereas cell contamination is expected). We can't be sure that the cells aren't 100% disease free so we take precautions but we're also pretty paranoid (example: human cell lines that have been grown on plastic for 30 years are treated like this too because you can't be 100% sure the originating person didn't have hepatitis) so YMMV.
posted by shelleycat at 12:51 PM on December 17, 2009

Call or look up your local recycling organization. In my area, my whole county is covered by a quasi-governmental organization that coordinate recycling efforts. They will have the answer you are looking for.

Also, your catheter supply company may accept them back. Have you checked with them?
posted by FergieBelle at 12:54 PM on December 17, 2009

Medical waste.

Have you tried glass catheters? I don't know about blokes (men), but for woman they rock. Yes, they look daunting, and require a leap of faith the first time you use them, but they are excellent.
posted by Flashduck at 7:07 PM on December 18, 2009