Sharps and sharps container disposal

Learn how to safely dispose of sharps and sharps containers to keep yourself and others safe from needlestick injuries and infection.

09 August 2024

Examples of sharps

Sharps is a medical term for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin. They may be used to manage or monitor medical conditions at home, work, or on the go. Some common examples of sharps include: 1

  • Needles – hollow needles used to inject medication under the skin
  • Syringes – devices used to inject medication into or withdraw fluid from the body
  • Lancets, also called “fingerstick” devices – instruments with a short, two-edged blade used to get drops of blood for testing. 
  • Auto Injectors, including epinephrine and insulin pens – syringes prefilled with fluid medication designed to be self-injected into the body
  • Infusion sets – tubing systems with a needle used to deliver medication, such as insulin, to the body.
  • Connection needles/sets – needles that connect to a tube used to transfer fluids in and out of the body.

How to Dispose of Sharps

Insulin pen needles, lancets, and many other sharps intended to manage medical conditions are often only intended for a single use, but what should you do with your sharps when you’re finished with them? 

The most important thing to remember is that anything sharp should never be simply thrown in your household trash. Used sharps should immediately be disposed of in a sharps disposal container. If you don't have one, you can typically find FDA-cleared sharps containers through your local pharmacy, medical supply companies, health care providers, or online. 

According to the FDA, once your sharps disposal container is about three-quarters (3/4) full, you should follow your community guidelines to properly dispose of your sharps.2 Some states offer programs such as mail-back programs, drop boxes, or special residential waste pick-up services; however disposal requirements may vary by state.3 

Visit the Safe Needle Disposal program site or contact your local trash removal services or health department to find more information about the sharps disposal regulations in your area such as: disposal programs, how to label your containers, what types of sharps containers can be used, and more.

 
Alternative Sharps Disposal Containers

If you're unable to access an FDA-cleared sharps container, some organizations and community guidelines recommend using a heavy-duty plastic household container such as a laundry detergent container as an alternative.If you’re planning to use a household container as an alternative, ensure that it has the basic features of a good sharps disposal container. 

According to the FDA, all sharps disposal containers should be: 2

  • made of a heavy-duty plastic;
  • able to close with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out;
  • upright and stable during use;
  • leak-resistant; and
  • properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container.

Importance of Safe Sharps Disposal

Whether the sharps are used for you, a pet, or someone else, you should always follow the proper safety guidelines to dispose of them. Improper disposal of lancets, insulin syringes, infusion sets, and other medical sharps can cause needlestick injuries and spread infections that can cause serious health conditions, especially for garbage collectors. According to the FDA the most common infections related to needlestick injuries are: 1

  • Hepatitis B (HBV),
  • Hepatitis C (HCV), and
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Practicing safe sharps disposal whether you're at home, work, or traveling is always important. Never place loose needles or other sharps in the household trash, public trash or recycling bins, and never flush them down the toilet as this can put sewage and trash workers, janitors, children, and others at risk of being harmed.1

How Roche supports sharps disposal safety

As a manufacturer, Roche has a responsibility—along with doctors, pharmacists, municipalities and customers—to help facilitate the proper handling and disposal of sharps. 

In addition to the resources provided above, our commitment to preventing needlestick injuries includes the development and manufacture of the only drum-based lancing device. The Accu-Chek® FastClix and Accu-Chek Softclix lancing devices use lancets which support safe disposal.

As we develop new products, and as new guidelines are established, Roche will continue to develop ways to support safety through the proper disposal of sharps.

1U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safely Using Sharps (Needles and Syringes) at Home, at Work and on Travel. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/… Accessed August 07, 2024.

2U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sharps Disposal Containers. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safely-using-sharps-needles-and-syringes-home-work-and-travel/sharps-disposal-containers Accessed August 07, 2024.

3U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Best Way to Get Rid of Used Needles and Other Sharps Available at: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safely-using-sharps-needles-and-syrin... Accessed August 07, 2024.