A Pilot Study on Disposal Practices and Environmental Awareness of Insulin-Related Devices Among People With Diabetes

Diabetes care generates substantial volumes of sharp and plastic waste, creating both safety and environmental concerns. We evaluated disposal practices for insulin-related sharps and devices among people with diabetes and assessed their awareness, attitudes, and sense of responsibility regarding appropriate disposal and environmental impact of diabetes-care waste.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey at the 2 hospital sites in Singapore. Adults with diabetes using insulin devices were eligible. An anonymized survey collected data on demographics, history and duration of diabetes diagnosis, sharps disposal practices, awareness of recycling and attitudes toward responsibility on safe sharps disposal and environmental sustainability. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and logistic regressions were carried out.

Sixty patients (mean age 46.0 ± 13.6 years; 56.7% female) completed the survey. Although 76.7% reported receiving advice on safe sharps disposal, only 6.7% used designated sharps containers for lancets while 25.0% discarded lancets directly into general waste; around half used plastic bottles whereas 20% used plastic bags or discarded insulin needles and syringes directly into general waste. Participants generally acknowledged that improper sharps disposal is a serious safety problem and considered proper disposal their personal responsibility. Receipt of advice from health care professionals was independently associated with safer sharps disposal (~20-fold higher odds, P = .002). Seventy-five percent were unaware that plastics in insulin pens are not recycled, and 55% did not know of available recycling facilities.

Despite high perceived personal responsibility, disposal practices and recycling awareness among insulin users remain inadequate. Clearer guidance, structured education, and more accessible disposal and recycling infrastructure are needed.