Sharps Disposal Container Requirements

Medical sharps, because they come in contact with bodies, are some of the most dangerous waste. Knowing the safety requirements for the containers to dispose of them can save a life.

Function

• Medical sharp disposal containers prevent syringes from "pricking" waste workers and reduce the spread of infectious disease, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Types

• The requirements for sharp disposal are for the containers or the method of disposal. Most states require sharps not enter the municipal waste system and disallow throwing out "loose" needles.

Typical Requirements

• The EPA usually delegates the disposal of medical sharps to individual state health departments. But typical requirements usually call for notches in the container neck to store sharps. The container must also be labeled as hazardous and sturdy enough to withstand any movement during transportation.

Contact

• You can talk to the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal at for local sharp disposal programs.

Warning

• You should never just throw out syringes with regular trash. Most communities handle used needles, and mail sharp exchanges usually offer free exchanges such as NASEN.