City of Davis

Beginning on September 1, 2008, State law makes it illegal to dispose of home-generated sharps waste in the trash or recycling containers, and requires that all sharps waste be transported to a collection center in an approved sharps container.

Home-generated sharps waste includes hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications derived from a household, including a multifamily residence or household.

The following are some of the disposal options available to you for disposal of sharps waste:

• Mail-Back Service. A list of sharps waste mail-back services authorized for use in California is available from the California Department Of Public Health (CDPH).
• Yolo County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off Days During HHW drop-off events, home generated sharps in approved sharps collection containers are accepted for free and safe disposal.
• Hospital Take Back. Some hospitals might take back needles (sharps) from those patients who go to the hospital for regular outpatient services.
• Medical Waste Disposal Directory. This directory enables you to locate facilities that collect sharps for disposal near to where you live or work.

Home generated sharps must be placed in an approved red sharps container. The sharps container is puncture-resistant and, once sealed, cannot spill. This container is considered full when it has been filled to three quarters of its capacity. At this point, the container should be permanently sealed and returned to a disposal location as soon as possible (see the list above for sharps disposal options). At that time a new container should be obtained.

Sharps containers may be purchased at most pharmacies and drug stores.

The County of Yolo received a hazardous waste grant from the state to purchase sharps containers to hand out to the public for free. These containers will be handed out to the public for free while supplies last at these locations in Davis:

Several manufacturers offer products for sale that allow you to destroy needles at home by burning, melting or cutting off the needle—making it safe to then throw in the garbage. Prices vary depending on the product.

• California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) sharps website: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/HHW/Sharps/default.htm.
• CIWMB brochure on sharps: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/HHW/Sharps/Brochure.pdf