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How to dispose of sharps containers
When using injectable treatments, it’s important that you safely discard them in a sharps container. Not doing so increases the risk of infection and injury.
Learn how to safely discard needles and what to do with a full sharps container.
Medically reviewed by
Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
Summary:
- Always put used needles, syringes, and other sharp medical items in an FDA-cleared sharps container to prevent injuries.
- Stop using the container when it’s about three-quarters full and lock it securely so nothing can spill out.
- Patients are responsible for buying their own sharps container, which can be found at most local pharmacies or online retailers.
- Return full containers to a pharmacy, doctor’s office, or local community sharps collection point.
Why is it important to use a sharps container?
When using injectable treatments, you should dispose of them correctly in a sharps container. These containers are specially designed to help you discard sharp medical objects, like needles, syringes, and scalpels safely.
The containers are made from a thick plastic material that sharp items can’t easily pierce. It has a secure lid to ensure that nothing spills out once placed inside. The containers are typically red with a biohazard symbol to alert others that they contain hazardous material.
It’s important to dispose of needles properly to lower the risk of infections and injury. Each used injection carries the risk of blood-borne infections, such as HIV and Hepatitis C, as well as bacterial and fungal infections.
What should be put in a sharps container?
Anything sharp can go into a sharps container, including:
- Needles
- Syringes
- Lancets
- Scalpels
- Broken glass from medical vials
- Tattoo and piercing needles
When using weight loss or diabetes injections, you should only dispose of the entire pen in a sharps container when it’s empty.
How do you use a sharps container?
To use a sharps container:
- Move the sliding cover back to open it.
- Drop the sharp object in.
- Slide the cover back on to close it when you’re not using it.
- When the container is full, slide the cover until you hear a click. This will lock the lid securely.
You should write the following information on the label outside the container:
- Your name
- The name of your health clinic or doctor
- The date you locked the container
After the container is full and locked, dispose of it safely. Make sure there’s no blood or liquid outside the container and it’s clean.
Where can I get a sharps container?
You can buy a sharps container at most major pharmacies, medical supply stores, or through online retailers. Ensure the container you choose is FDA-cleared for the disposal of medical sharps.
If you don’t have an FDA-cleared container, the FDA suggests using a heavy-duty plastic household container (like a laundry detergent bottle) as a temporary alternative, provided it’s leak-resistant, remains upright, and has a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid.
When to know when a sharps container is full?
When the container is three-quarters full, stop using it to ensure nothing spills out. At this point, you should lock it securely and dispose of it. Overfilling the container increases your risk of injury as the sharp items can potentially poke through the opening.
How can you dispose of a sharps container?
You can dispose of a sharps container at the following places:
- Doctor’s offices
- Pharmacies
- Local health departments or community collection sites
- Designated hazardous waste drop-off sites
Before dropping your container off, it’s best to phone ahead to check they’re able to provide this service for you (not everywhere does).
Why is it important to dispose of sharps containers safely?
Disposing of sharps containers safely reduces the risk of infection and injury. Sharps containers contain biohazardous waste, which requires specialized waste removal services. Putting them in a normal household trash can increases injury risk for people handling them and becomes an environmental hazard.
Where can you dispose of sharps containers?
Most pharmacies dispose of sharps containers, but it’s best to call and confirm before heading out to them. The service is usually free and shouldn’t take much time. You can also check the Safe Needle Disposal website for locations in your state.
Reference Popover #ref1
Treated trusted source
Crepet, A., & Sargent, C. (2022).
Infections in people who inject drugs on the acute medical take. Clinical Medicine, 22(5), 383.
Reference Popover #ref2
Treated trusted source
Center for Devices and Radiological Health (2019).
Sharps Disposal Containers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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