Environmental Health

Sharps Disposal

Infectious diseases such as HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis B and C can be transmitted by improperly discarding sharps (needles, syringes, and lancets).  To keep our communities safe, it is important to properly dispose of your used sharps.

Never leave a SHARPS container unattended

Problems sharps can cause:

• They clog sewers and lift stations
• They end up at recycling centers
• They puncture solid waste containers and place workers along collection routes, and at the landfill, at risk of injury and/or disease
• They threaten public safety
• They may be contaminated with hepatitis, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and other serious or fatal diseases

1.  All sharps should be disposed of in rigid puncture-resistant containers such as liquid detergent bottles, bleach bottles, or sharps containers

2.  Perform your routine blood tests and injections and place the used sharps in your containers.  Do NOT snap off the needle.  Do NOT recap the needle.

3.  Containers should be three-quarters full

4.  All containers should have a lid which must be tightly sealed before it goes into residential garbage.  Masking tape can be used to help secure the lid

5.  Place container in residential garbage or dispose of it at the county's landfill.

For a list of local participating SHARPS disposal pharmacies and more information please click here.