Sewing Machine Needles
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 4
Sewing Machine Needles
Hi, I need some advice regarding the disposal - or resharpening - of sewing machine needles. I'm reluctant to put them in the trash/landfill so I thought I would ask you all - What method do you use to discard sewing machine needles? Thanks for your help.
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,858
How do you dispose of other sharps, eg. shaving blades, etc?
Likewise, what are you doing with your rotary blades??
It might be best to check on what the regulations are for such, in your municipality.
Many keep a pill bottle and put them into it.
For me ....
I have a piggy bank that I "deposit" any needles, pins and rotary blades that are beyond use.
It'll be a long time before it will be filled .... and I have to figure out what to do with it then!
Likewise, what are you doing with your rotary blades??
It might be best to check on what the regulations are for such, in your municipality.
Many keep a pill bottle and put them into it.
For me ....
I have a piggy bank that I "deposit" any needles, pins and rotary blades that are beyond use.
It'll be a long time before it will be filled .... and I have to figure out what to do with it then!
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Western Catskills
Posts: 138
I put dull or broken needles of any sort in my husband's 'sharps' container. Not having one of those, you could put them in a metal or plastic container, like a prescription meds one with screw-on lid, and when full, put in trash.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,434
I use a few sticky notes. Blue painters tape to hold the needle or rotary blade on the note. Tape well. Old crystal lite containers hold the used discards. The container is taped shut when it is time to put in the trash.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,182
I put painters tape on my blades. People look at me strangely sometimes on why I have a roll of it in my sewing kit but I use it a lot in a lot of different ways. Painters tape and parchment paper -- can't hardly quilt without them!
I also have a sharps container for my testing supplies. In my area I am to fill a pop or similar bottle and then tape the cap on and put in my trash. In other nearby communities they don't allow that and want them to go to sharps disposals, which are often at pharmacies. (We also are supposed to take our new-fangled used lightbulbs to most home improvement stores, and Goodwill has a contract to accept dead appliances). If they are going to require us to properly dispose of stuff it works a lot easier if they make it easy like the stores accepting items.
And like SueZQ says, my doctor never minds if I have a couple extras sharps to dispose of at our meetings (it's usually where I clean out my traveling kit). I don't think most offices would flinch at a pill bottle full of whatever.
I also have a sharps container for my testing supplies. In my area I am to fill a pop or similar bottle and then tape the cap on and put in my trash. In other nearby communities they don't allow that and want them to go to sharps disposals, which are often at pharmacies. (We also are supposed to take our new-fangled used lightbulbs to most home improvement stores, and Goodwill has a contract to accept dead appliances). If they are going to require us to properly dispose of stuff it works a lot easier if they make it easy like the stores accepting items.
And like SueZQ says, my doctor never minds if I have a couple extras sharps to dispose of at our meetings (it's usually where I clean out my traveling kit). I don't think most offices would flinch at a pill bottle full of whatever.
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,858
I have found that many medical sharps programs will not accept anything but medical sharps!
#10
I usually purchase Schmetz needles that come in a hard plastic box. I save the old box, mark an X on the front, then put the old needles in there. It's nice and small and doesn't take much room in my sewing gear. I like the piggy bank idea if would look cute in my sewing nook.
Bonnie
Bonnie
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05-21-2012 09:03 AM