Sharps Disposal

Departments using needles and other sharps that may become contaminated with biohazardous materials need to arrange disposal with the Medical Waste contractor. Contact the Dept of Biology and Environmental Science for more information.

For individuals using needles, lancets, or other medical devices on themselves:

· While placement of potentially infectious sharps directly into the regular trash at home is allowed, doing so at work is a violation of OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen regulation.

· Employees who need to use a medical implement that breaks the skin (insulin needles, blood sugar lancets,…) are expected to bring a puncture-proof container from home to use for collection of the used implements.

· For communication of hazard, the collection container should be labeled. The preferred wording is “Household Sharps.”

· This puncture-proof container may be used until full and may be sealed and placed into the regular trash.