Sharps Container Disposal Service

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Sharps are objects that can penetrate a worker’s skin, such as needles, scalpels, broken glass, capillary tubes and the exposed ends of dental wires. If blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), as defined in the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), are present or may be present on the sharp, it is a contaminated sharp and appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn.

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• Needles: Hollow needles used for injecting medications.

• Syringes: With or without needles

• Blood vials

• Lancets: AKA “fingerstick” devices. 

• Infusion Sets: Tubing/needle systems used to deliver medications beneath the skin.

• Connection Needles / Connection Sets: Needles that connect to tubes. 

• Scalpels and other blades.

• Scissors: used to cut flesh or dressings.

• Glass: Broken or unbroken glass that hasn’t necessarily been contaminated may still need sharps disposal.

• Sharp Plastic may need special disposal.

A sharps container is a specialized container designed for the safe disposal of medical sharps, which are objects or instruments with sharp edges or points that can puncture the skin.  A “sharps container” means a rigid puncture-resistant container used in patient care or research activities meeting the standards of, and receiving approval from, the United States Food and Drug Administration as a medical device used for the collection of discarded medical needles or other sharps.

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The primary purpose of a sharps container is to provide a secure and hygienic method for collecting used sharps and preventing accidental injuries or infections that could occur from improper disposal.

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Sharps containers come in many sizes and shapes depending on the intended use and manufacture.  Typically sharps containers come in the following sizes:​

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1 Quart, 1 Gallon, 5 Quart, 2 Gallon, 3 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 8 Gallon, 10 Gallon, 12 Gallon, 18 Gallon

When placing your sharps container, it is important to consider safety, accessibility, and compliance with local regulations. San Diego Medical Waste recommends that sharps disposal containers be located with consideration of the following factors:

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• Choose a secure location: Sharps are a "point of use disposal" item.  Select a secure location that is out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidental access or injury. Make sure the sharps container is stable and cannot be easily knocked over.

• Keep sharps containers close to where sharps are used: Place the sharps container in a convenient location near where you typically use sharps. This should be in the area where you administer injections or perform medical procedures.

• Use a locking sharps container wall mount when available: An ideal standing instillation height for a fixed sharps disposal container is 52 to 56 inches. (Place containers slightly below eye level.)

• Healthcare workers should be able to comfortably view the entire inlet opening of the disposal container.

• Containers should be located within arm's reach.

• Place all needles and sharps in a verified sharps container immediately after use.

• Storage requirements and community guidelines vary by state and county. Please check your local regulations state page for a full list of regulatory requirements.

Sharps containers are reserved for those items that are contaminated and that could puncture the skin. Proper sharps handling and proper training can help ensure staff are fully aware of what can and cannot be disposed of in a sharps container.

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Things that should not be thrown in a sharps container include:

• Medications: Sharps containers are not meant for the disposal of medications, including pills, liquids, or creams. Medications should be disposed of following specific guidelines provided by your local pharmacy, healthcare provider, or drug take-back programs. To learn more on medication and pharmaceutical disposal click here.

• Tape, paper, bandages/gauze, exam gloves, alcohol preps (These items go into a biohazard waste container)

• Aerosols or inhalers (These items are typically hazardous or "RCRA" Waste and go into a hazardous waste container

• Garbage or liquids of any kind

• Batteries of any type

• Hazardous, chemical, radioactive or red bag waste (non-sharps regulated medical waste)