Dexcom sensors contain a small needle (used during insertion) and come into contact with blood, so they should be treated as sharps and disposed of accordingly. The sensor applicator, the worn sensor patch, and the transmitter each have slightly different disposal needs, but none of them should go loosely into your household trash.
Why Dexcom Sensors Count as Sharps
When you insert a Dexcom sensor, the applicator uses a thin needle to place a filament under your skin. That needle retracts into the applicator housing after insertion, but it’s still inside. The worn sensor itself has been in contact with your blood for up to 10 days (or 10.5 days for the G7). Both components qualify as blood-containing medical waste under most local health guidelines, and Dexcom’s own recommendation is to dispose of used applicators following local rules for blood-containing components.
Dexcom does not currently operate a recycling program for sensors or applicators.
What You Need for Safe Disposal
You have two main options for a disposal container. A commercially available sharps container, sold at most pharmacies for a few dollars, is the simplest choice. If you’d rather not buy one, you can use a strong plastic or metal container with a screw-on or tightly secured lid. Good household alternatives include empty bleach bottles, liquid detergent bottles, or heavy plastic jugs. A coffee can works too, as long as you seal the lid with strong tape once it’s full.
Avoid thin plastic containers like milk jugs, which a needle can puncture easily. Never use glass, since breaking it creates a second hazard. If you’re using a homemade container, label it “Used Sharps” so anyone who encounters it knows what’s inside.
Disposing of Each Component
The Sensor Applicator
After you click the applicator onto your skin and the sensor is placed, the retracted needle stays trapped inside the plastic housing. Drop the entire applicator into your sharps container. Don’t try to disassemble it or remove the needle.
The Worn Sensor Patch
When your sensor session ends and you peel the patch off your skin, the thin filament that sat under your skin comes out with it. This filament has been in contact with blood and interstitial fluid. Place the used sensor patch into your sharps container as well.
The Transmitter
If you use a G6 system, the transmitter is a separate reusable piece that snaps into each sensor. It contains a small lithium battery and lasts about three months before it needs replacing. When it’s done, it should be treated as electronic waste rather than sharps. Many communities have e-waste drop-off locations at recycling centers, retail electronics stores, or municipal collection events. Check your local waste authority’s website for the nearest option. Don’t toss a lithium battery into regular trash or recycling bins.
The G7 integrates the transmitter directly into the disposable sensor pod, which means each used G7 sensor contains a small battery. This makes proper disposal even more important. Place the G7 pod in your sharps container, and when the container is full, follow your local guidelines for both sharps and battery-containing waste.
When Your Sharps Container Is Full
Once your container is about three-quarters full, seal it securely. Don’t overfill it, since that makes accidental punctures more likely. Store the sealed container away from children and pets until you can get rid of it.
Disposal options vary by location, but the most common ones are:
- Curbside trash pickup: Many municipalities allow sealed, labeled sharps containers in your regular trash on collection day. Check your local rules first.
- Pharmacy drop-off: Some pharmacies accept sealed sharps containers at no charge.
- Community collection sites: Public health units, hospitals, and harm reduction sites often have sharps drop-off bins.
The website SafeNeedleDisposal.org has a search tool that lets you enter your location and find nearby drop-off sites within 10 to 100 miles. Contact the specific facility before visiting to confirm their hours and whether they accept the type of container you’re using.
Disposal While Traveling
If you’re changing a sensor while away from home, the FDA recommends carrying a small, travel-size sharps container with you. These are compact enough to fit in a bag or carry-on. When flying, check the TSA website before your trip for current rules on traveling with sharps containers. Most airlines and airports don’t provide sharps disposal, so having your own container avoids the temptation to wrap a used sensor in tissue and drop it in a public trash can.
Hotel rooms occasionally have small sharps bins in the bathroom, but don’t count on it. A portable container you control is the most reliable approach, whether you’re gone for a weekend or a month.