Abstract: A prehensile container is provided for demounting and storing used hypodermic needles and/or surgical blades pending their ultimate disposal. The same hand that holds the container can actuate the closure blade by finger force to clear an orifice for passage of a used hypodermic needle. When the end of the syringe to which the needle is affixed abuts the mouthpiece of the orifice, the finger force can be released to hold the needle between the edge of an aperture of the shutter blade and an edge of the orifice, so that the needle can be separated by withdrawal of the syringe with one hand while holding the container with the other. Another exertion of finger force will let the used needle drop into the container and a second release will restore the closed condition of the container. Internal baffles obstruct the exit of stored needles, to prevent an unauthorized person from extracting a needle from the container by opening the access orifice.