How to dispose of sharps used in a business

Sharps generated or collected by a business or commercial enterprise are considered biomedical waste. Safe disposal of sharps is a cost of doing business and is the business owner’s responsibility. This is true for businesses large and small, for-profit and non-profit. Biomedical waste generators may include, but are not limited to:

Sharps must be disposed through a permitted collection or a sharps mail back service or through an approved biomedical waste treatment method. Businesses may not use the King County or City of Seattle drop boxes for sharps disposal.

For additional information about the transporter permitting process or approved sharp waste treatment methods, please contact our Solid Waste Program at 206-263-9566.

Biomedical waste generators are also required to create a Biomedical Waste Management Plan.

Learn more about biomedical waste and management plans.

Permitted sharp waste collection services 

• Stericycle, Inc.

20320 80th Ave S

Kent, WA 98032

Phone: 866-783-7422

Email: Ask.regulatory@stericycle.com

• Trilogy Medwaste

3032 S Cedar St, Suite A

Tacoma, WA 98409

Phone: 888-763-3927 

Mail Back Services

There are several companies that offer mail-in sharps disposal services. Customers purchase sharps containers, shipping packaging, and shipping labels from the businesses. When the sharps containers are full, customers mail the containers, in the special packaging, back to the company. Please check with each individual company for the most current information and requirements.