If you have livestock, you will eventually need a sharp’s container for your operation. Healthy animals need routine vaccines and sick animals may need a shot to get them on the road to recovery. With these directions, you can make your own sharp’s container to properly dispose of used needles and other contaminated sharp objects.
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If you have livestock, you will eventually need a sharp’s container for your operation. Healthy animals need routine vaccines and sick animals may need a shot to get them on the road to recovery. At the end of these (not so fun) do-it-yourself tasks, producers are left with used needles which pose a potential safety issue.
The Dangers of Contaminated Sharps
Used needles that are not properly disposed of have the opportunity to hurt people or animals that come in contact with them. If put in the regular trash, this includes members of one’s household as well as waste management workers (garbage pick-up and landfill employees).
In addition to the possibility of causing injury, used needles can also be a vector for disease transmission.
Famers and pet owners have an ethical obligation to properly dispose of used needles and other contaminated sharp objects.
Types of Sharp’s Containers
Ideally, used needles should be placed in an approved sharp’s container made specifically for this purpose. You can buy a “real” sharp’s container on Amazon or a medical supply store or website.
Alternatively, you can make your own sharp’s container from an empty laundry detergent bottle. Laundry detergent bottles work well because they are made from thick plastic that is not penetrated easily and have a tightfitting, screw-on lid. I would not recommend using a milk jug or pop bottle, the plastic is too thin.
What Items Go in a Sharp’s Container
Used needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp objects should be disposed of in a sharp’s container. If an item can potentially poke and injure someone, I would throw it in there as well- this includes wire and broken glass.
Things that don’t belong in a sharp’s container are trash, wrappers, plastic syringes, gauze, and batteries. Waste should be sorted and disposed of properly so that people, animals, and the environment can be kept safe.
Directions for Making and Using a DIY Farm Sharps Container
- Find an empty laundry detergent bottle
- With a permanent marker, label the bottle “Farm Sharps.” Don’t skip this step- you don’t want this container to accidently end up in a recycling bin
- Keep the container in an easy to get to, but safe place in your barn to minimize the handling and transport of sharp objects
- Carefully place used needles and other sharp objects into the container right after use
- Screw the lid on tightly
- Use the bottle until it is full. Do not overfill the bottle, you don’t want it to leak or become punctured from pressure
- Use duct tape to secure the lid on the filled container, this helps prevent leakage and discourages anyone from opening it again
- Put the container in the trash or follow community guidelines for disposal
Local pharmacies, veterinary clinics, and conservation districts may hold household hazardous waste “collection day” events throughout the year. This is a good place to take your filled DIY sharp’s container. Contact your county businesses or agencies to see what they recommend.
You can also look for disposal site options by state on the safeneedledisposal.org website.
Mother, farmer, author, and teacher by trade… She loves tending to things and watching them grow!