SafeNeedleDisposal.org is an independent non-profit, information resource owned and managed by NeedyMeds. Our organization is not affiliated with any government agency, specialty pharmacy or pharmaceutical company.
SafeNeedleDisposal.org does not provide sharps containers. Sharps containers are available for purchase at pharmacies, medical supply stores and retailers such as Amazon and Walmart. Our website sponsor, PureWay, is a national medical waste supply company that sells sharps disposal mail-kits for consumers. Please call 877-765-3030 or visit https://store.pureway.com/collections/sharps-container-disposal
If a sharps container is not obtainable, most states allow patients to place their used sharps in a puncture-resistant plastic container with a screw-top lid, such as an empty bleach or laundry detergent bottle. Please review your state guidelines on our website.
SafeNeedleDisposal.org does not have a pickup service for sharps containers. If you are disabled or have a medical condition that prevents you from going to a disposal site, contact your local health department and ask for information on medical waste disposal companies that provide pickup services. Another option is to purchase a sharps disposal mail-back kit is from our partner, PureWay, a national medical waste supply company. Please call 877-765-3030 or visit https://store.pureway.com/collections/sharps-container-disposal
Unless otherwise mandated, retail and mail-order pharmacies do not take back full sharps containers for disposal. These facilities are typically required by state law to pay for their medical waste disposal and usually cannot take containers from anyone else.
Some retail pharmacies provide sharps disposal mail-back kits, which include a sharps container, return shipping box and prepaid mailing label. Ask your pharmacist if this service is available.
Unless otherwise mandated, healthcare facilities and fire stations typically cannot take full sharps containers for disposal. These facilities are typically required by state medical waste laws to pay for their medical waste disposal and usually do not have the resources to take containers from the public.
Businesses, healthcare facilities and pharmacies typically fall under regulated medical waste disposal laws. The rules vary by state but these facilities are often required by law to contract with a medical waste disposal company to dispose sharps.
SafeNeedleDisposal.org maintains a partnership with Medical Waste Pros, a US-based referral service for document shredding and commercially generated sharps. If you are a business, institution, medical facility or other organization generating sharps waste, please call 617-206-2614 or visit https://safeneedledisposal.org/facility-disposal-referrals/
The following national organizations accept unused sharps and other medical supplies: Insulin for Life (352-327-8649 or staff@iflusa.org) and World Medical Relief (313-866-5333 or info@worldmedicalrelief.org).
Needles and/or sharps must be in their original packaging and not expired (the sterility of syringes is typically 5 years from the manufacturer’s date). Please contact programs first for further information about the eligibility of your items.
If you have expired, unused sharps, you can dispose them as if they were used according to your state guidelines. Select your state on our homepage to find this information.
Waste generated by home healthcare aides or nurses in private households is usually considered the responsibility of the company providing the home care services. However, the amount of used sharps waste may be small enough to be considered “home-generated,” in which case the state guidelines for home-generated sharps may be followed. It depends on how frequently the client needs to receive injections and what they are being treated for. Another factor is the size of the business and how many clients are being served. Contact your city health department or state waste agency to confirm medical waste disposal laws for home healthcare companies.
A used syringe that has been needle-clipped may be disposed of in your regular trash. When your needle clipper becomes full, it should be disposed of according to state or local guidelines.
State guidelines for home-generated sharps disposal are also applicable for pets. Disposal location and programs will also accept used sharps from pets.
SafeNeedleDisposal.org cannot register or license sharps collection programs. You will need to contact your city or county health department for guidance.
State waste agencies may also be able to provide information on the requirements for your area. A directory of state waste agencies can be found here: https://safeneedledisposal.org/for-businesses/state-agency-contacts/
A see-through/transparent container, such as a milk or water jug, is not recommended because they are usually not puncture resistant. Used sharps should be placed in a sharps container or other strong, plastic container, such an empty bleach, coffee or laundry detergent container.
Used sharps should be placed in a sharps container or other strong, plastic container that is puncture proof, but they do not need to be mixed with an undesirable substance.
We do not have specific information on recycling foam (aka Styrofoam) containers. It is recommended that you contact your city/town to find out if there is a collection program in your area. The EPS Industry Alliance maintains a directory of recycling locations on their website: https://www.epsindustry.org/recycling-map.
Glucose meters and CGM devices are considered electronic waste (e-waste). They can usually be disposed at locations or programs that accept such items. Check with your city or town to find out if your community has an e-waste collection program or Google e-waste locations near me.
Best Buy provides a recycling service for e-waste. More information can be found here: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/services/recycling/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025
Some areas have HHW facilities and collection events that accept home-generated medical sharps. Check with your city or county solid waste department to find out if these facilities or collection events are available in your area and inquire if they accept sharps. You can also use the ZIP code search on our website to look for programs in your area.
A Container Exchange Program involves going to a facility to obtain an approved sharps container and in many cases, register for the disposal program. You bring your container to your home and deposit your used sharps into the container. When the container is full, you return to it to the facility and it will be exchanged for a new container.
In many cases, you must use the container the program provides. Always contact the program to confirm their requirements.
Mail-Back programs provide sharps disposal kits, which include a sharps container, return shipping box and prepaid label. Retail pharmacies, medical supply stores and waste haulers provide these kits to consumers for purchase. Some pharmaceutical companies provide mail-back programs for injectable medications. For a list of these programs, click on the Solutions tab on our website.
Please note that the return shipping box and prepaid label is for the specific size and weight of the sharps container provided. You cannot send other containers or request different sized return boxes. Furthermore, to use the pharmaceutical mail-back programs, you must have a valid prescription and be actively taking the injectable medication.
If you find a loose syringe on the ground, contact your city health department or law enforcement agency. They typically have the equipment to safely handle the syringe and means to dispose of it properly.
We first recommend contacting your local police or sheriff to find out if they are able to collect the container. If local law enforcement agencies cannot take such items from private property, the container should be disposed of according to state guidelines for safe needle disposal.
We recommend contacting one or more of the following: your city or county health department, law enforcement, local government leaders and state legislators.