​Solid Waste Full Service Sharps & Needle DIsposal

Sharps & Needle Disposal

Do you have sharps or needles to dispose?  PLEASE be aware that there are specific rules to follow for sharps and needle disposal.

FIRST, follow these requirements:

Used needles and other sharps should be either:

1. Put your sharps or needles in a sturdy, plastic container that you purchase, or;
2. Use a sturdy plastic container (like a laundry detergent bottle) that you already have at home. The container should be leak-proof and have a lid that cannot be punctured by the sharps.
   
   Caution: Don't use clear containers such as milk jugs as they are too thin and can be punctured. Don't use glass containers, either, since they break easily.
   
    

FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers are generally available through pharmacies, medical supply companies, health care providers, and online.

The FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers are made from rigid plastic and come marked with a line that indicates when the container should be considered full, which means it's time to dispose of the container. Below are examples of FDA-cleared sharps containers:

3. If an FDA-approved container is not available, use a heavy duty plastic household container (such as the laundry detergent container shown below):

Sharp containers should be duct taped and written on the outside – Danger Sharps.

    

Make sure the lid is secured tightly.

NEVER try to recycle

     

4. For the sharps container and the heavy-duty plastic container, take a strip of duct tape and wrap around the lid. This adds a layer of protection to prevent any hazardous materials leaking out and it seals any space that might be left between the rim of the lid and the bottle.

5. Next label the outside of the container using a permanent marker! You can use words like: used sharps, needles, "DO NOT RECYCLE" or "Biohazard."

6. The container can be placed safely in your trash container but never in your curbside recycling container!

Warnings

• Do not recycle sharps, throw them loosely in the trash, leave them in public places (such as parks, streets, or anywhere else), or flush them down the toilet. In some places, simply throwing sharps in the trash or in the toilet is illegal.
• If you're pricked by a used sharp, contact your medical provider immediately. Sharps can transfer dangerous and even deadly diseases.
• Keep sharps containers out of reach of children and pets.