How to Dispose of Sharps in Your State

	Put used sharps in a heavy-duty, plastic container. See: List of acceptable containers. Loose sharps should never be thrown into the trash or toilet.
	When the container is about three-quarters (¾) full, put the lid on, seal it with duct tape, and label: DO NOT RECYCLE.
	Put the sealed plastic container in the household trash - do not recycle! If a trash collector is reluctant to collect a red sharps container, refer them to your state waste agency.

• If you have a needle clipper, it can be disposed of according to your state or local regulations when full. See: More information on needle clippers.
• Sharps that retract after use, or are very small, should be disposed of like all other sharps.

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If you would like to bring your sealed container to a community sharps disposal program, there are drop-off locations in several cities and towns.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued the following guidelines for household-generated sharps: Click Here to Open The handling and disposal of used home-generated medical sharps such as needles, syringes, and lancets, are exempted from regulation in Illinois' Potentially Infectious Medical Waste law. However, these materials still need to be handled safely. Illinois EPA needs your help in ensuring that medical sharps are disposed of in a manner that minimizes health risks to haulers, recycling and landfill personnel and the community.

Medical sharps should be placed in either a purchased medical sharps container (from a pharmacy or health care provider) or a heavy-plastic or metal container. The containers should be puncture-proof with a tight-fitting lid. Household containers such as plastic detergent bottles can be used if the following precautions are observed: Use heavy-duty tape such as electrical or duct tape to secure the lid to the container, Write the words "Do Not Recycle" on the container with a black permanent marker. This helps to ensure the container will not be inadvertently mingled with recyclable materials, Double-bag the container in a couple of plastic shopping bags (i.e. grocery store bags) once the lid has been taped and the container has been marked, Do not use a clear or glass container, Do not over-stuff the containers with medical sharps (fill only to approximately full). This can increase pressure on the lid and cause a release of the medical sharps.

While waiting for a full container, keep out of reach of children and pets. Always wash your hands after touching medical sharps. Although other methods of disposal are preferred, the container may be placed in your regular trash for disposal once you have followed the precautions mentioned above.

State guidelines provided courtesy of NeedyMeds via SafeNeedleDisposal.org.