Depends on what the project is and the material. When I dispose of a needle I find something I can stick both ends into and wrap in a small piece of paper of something. Friend of mine disposed of some old needles because they had rusted (she got them out of an old broken machine). One poked her. She got a really bad infection. Now she saves old medicine bottles just for that purpose of getting rid of broken or rusty needles. If I'm sewing on denim or a heavy fabric like it, I will use a denim or heavy duty needle.