Disposal of Home-Generated Sharps

As of September 1, 2008, California State Law prohibits throwing away sharps in the regular trash.

What are Sharps?

• Needles and Syringes
• Lancets (mainly used for diabetes testing)
• Other self-injection devices with sharp ends (such as EpiPens)

Why the New Law?

• Creates a safer home and work environment
• Less likely to spread germs & diseases often found in sharps
• Smaller chance of injury

What Do Resident Do?

• Make sure the sharps are kept in a closed sharps container or other similar plastic or metal puncture-resistant container with tight-fitting lid.
• See if your health care provider, hospital or pharmacy has a take-back program.
• Find out about mail-back programs from your physician or online at the California Department of Public Health (Fees apply).
• Take your sharps to an approved drop-off collection site or a household hazardous waste facility. For City of San Diego residents, when container is ¾ full, tape closed, label "Sharps," and make an appointment to drop containers off at the Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility.

What Do Businesses Do?

• If you are interested in becoming a home generated sharps consolidation location or need assistance with disposal of business-generated sharps, contact the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health.

Resources

• Environmental Services Department’s Customer Service 858-694-7000
• Household Waste Transfer Facility
• San Diego County’s Website Announcement
• California Department of Public Health’s Medical Waste Management Program
• California Integrated Waste Management Board Sharps Waste