Medical Sharps Disposal
Hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to pierce the skin to deliver medications are known as “sharps” — and sharps used at home are a biohazard waste.
State law (H&SC §118286) makes it illegal to dispose of home-generated sharps waste in trash or recycling containers. The law says that all sharps waste must be transported to a collection center in an approved sharps container.
Never toss sharps in your One Big Bin
Improper sharps disposal can put people and animals — including waste management workers, janitors, housekeepers, children, household pets and wildlife — at risk for injury and infection by diseases like hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and others.
Mail-Back Service. Many sharps manufacturers offer mail-back services for their products, and you can contact them directly for disposal options.
Place your sharps in an approved container and drop them at an authorized disposal facility.
Placer County residents can drop off sharps at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) free of charge, daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find our location and hours here.
