Sharps

Definition: Items that can induce subdermal inoculation of infectious agents or that can easily penetrate the skin, puncture waste bags and cardboard boxes, sharps that have been used or are intended to be used in human or animal patient care or in medical, research, or industrial laboratories, including hypodermic needles, syringes, Pasteur pipettes, capillary tubes, broken glass from the laboratory including slides and slide covers, razor blades, and scalpel blades.

Sharps require special handling and packaging under both OSHA and DOT. Be sure to refer to your state’s guidelines when identifying which items are classified as sharps. Needleless injection devices, heel lancers and retractable or needle destruction technologies may be considered sharps as well.

Key Resources

Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal

A collaboration of businesses, community groups, non-profit organizations, and government that promotes public awareness and solutions for safe disposal of needles, syringes, and other sharps in the community.

Community Options for Safe Needle Disposal (PDF)

Describes safe needle disposal programs that communities and states might adopt. Offers examples of successful programs including: drop-off collection sites, community household hazardous waste collection centers, residential “special waste” pickups, syringe exchange programs, mail-back services, and home needle destruction devices.

Protect Yourself, Protect Others: Safe Options for Home Needle Disposal (PDF)

Describes disposal options for people who use syringes and other medical sharps at home. Contains information on six types of services available to home users: drop-off collection sites, community household hazardous waste collection centers, residential “special waste” pickups, syringe exchange programs, mail-back services, and home needle destruction devices.

Handle with Care: How To Throw Out Used Insulin Syringes and Lancets at Home – A Booklet for Young People with Diabetes and Their Families (PDF)

Offers easy directions and illustrations for young people with diabetes on how to protect family members and waste handlers from injury, while keeping the environment clean and safe.

U.S. Post Office Bulletin: Infectious Substances (PDF)

Provides postal regulations for mailing infectious substances.