Medical Waste: Sharps

Image provided by the FDA website.

Medical Sharps is another term for syringes, needles or anything with a sharp point that can puncture the skin. These items should never be thrown away into the trash or placed in recycling bins. It is against the law to improperly dispose of sharps because of the threat it imposes on the people that could potentially contact the waste. If someone is accidently struck by a needle that has been improperly disposed they are at risk for transmitting various diseases or viruses.

According to safeneedle.org Americans discard 7.8 million needles every year. That’s a lot of medical waste generated every year. This number comes from self-injecting medications, outside of a healthcare setting. It’s important that every person takes the time to dispose of medical sharps the proper way.

To find ways on how to dispose medical sharps check out the Department of Enviornmental Quatlity (DEQ) Household Drug Take Back Map. It highlights where you can bring your syringes, but also any medications. You can also refer to this PDF created by the DEQ of a list of places that accept medical sharps.