Where can I get rid of full syringes in the Twin Cities?

November 4, 2019 5:34 PM

I used to take injectable medication and I still have about 20 pre-filled syringes left. I tried to turn them into the DEA on their take back day and they refused. The flyers they gave me are generic and only talk about where to dispose of used needles. I want to get rid of these unused - where?

I have searched my own city's website for "needles" and "sharps" and there are no results. I don't want generic "ask your pharmacy" type answers. I want a specific location in Anoka or Hennepin county where I can drop these off safely. To be clear, there is still expired medicine inside of these and I don't want that to end up in the sewers.

posted by soelo to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

A locality near me advises dispelling the medication into kitty litter and throwing it in the trash and the using the sharps container.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:06 PM on November 4, 2019 [3 favorites]

FWIW, the state guidelines say to treat pre-filled syringes as household sharps. (So in theory you can put them in a laundry detergent bottle, seal it, label it and put it in the trash.) You didn't specify, but I'm presuming they're pre-filled syringes.

The Minnesota Trans Health Coalition does needle exchange and are at least worth a phone call. Here's a calendar of needle exchanges. (I think (some) pharmacies are supposed to take them in MN, but from things I've heard from people at MTHC, there's often a gap between what a pharmacy has told a state they do and what they'll actually do.)
posted by hoyland at 6:08 PM on November 4, 2019

Normally you put the syringes into a sharps box and then turn the sharps box into a clinic.

There is a Hennepin site Here

You can also do this via mail. For example Amazon.com
posted by pdoege at 6:32 PM on November 4, 2019

Looks like there are two Hennepin County drop-off locations that accept sharps from households.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 6:47 PM on November 4, 2019

Hmm, on re-read, they accept used sharps but not with medication inside them. Some drop-off facilities do accept unused sharps but it looks limited to Epi-pens. Probably a mail-in program is your best bet.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 6:49 PM on November 4, 2019

From the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: "Unused needles and syringes that still contain medication may be put in medication collection boxes if they are first placed in a puncture proof container."
They provide a map of drop off locations with several in Hennepin/Anoka counties.

I would not use one of the mail in boxes or drop off services designed for used sharps, as most specify they do not want filled syringes.
posted by nothing as something as one at 7:14 PM on November 4, 2019 [1 favorite]

Empty the syringes into a cough medicine bottle, or similar bottle, dispose of the empties as sharps and take your full cough medicine bottle to your pharmacy to dispose of as expired medicine.

Or ask your pharmacy what they would need you to do to take them as expired medicine as they usually prefer you to use the original container.
posted by Jane the Brown at 4:22 AM on November 5, 2019