You can drop off sharps containers at several types of locations depending on your area:
- Medical facilities such as doctors' offices, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies often accept sharps containers for disposal
- Health departments or public health centers may have 24/7 outdoor drop boxes specifically for sharps disposal
- Household hazardous waste collection sites that accept hazardous materials like paints and motor oil may also take sharps containers
- Police or fire stations sometimes serve as supervised collection sites for sharps disposal
- Transfer stations or recycling centers in some counties accept sharps containers for safe disposal
- Mail-back programs allow you to send FDA-cleared sharps containers to a disposal site by mail, usually for a fee. Follow the container manufacturer's instructions for this option
To find specific drop-off locations near you, check with your local health department, waste management services, or pharmacy. Many areas provide lists of registered sharps collection sites online or via phone. Always use a proper, puncture-resistant sharps container with a secure lid when transporting sharps for disposal
. For example, in King County, WA, sharps can be dropped off at public health centers, transfer stations, or via mail-back services
. In San Diego County, CA, there are multiple residential sharps collection drop boxes and mail-back options available
. In summary, common drop-off points include:
- Doctors' offices and hospitals
- Pharmacies
- Health departments and public health centers
- Household hazardous waste collection sites
- Police or fire stations
- Transfer or recycling stations
- Mail-back disposal programs
Contact your local authorities or waste disposal services to confirm available options and any associated fees in your area
