How to safely handle, collect, and store sharps

• Equipment

  Gather the equipment you will need to safely pick-up and dispose of the sharps, including:

  • A tool to pick-up the sharps, such as tongs, plyers, or a broom and dustpan.
  • Gloves (preferably puncture resistant).
  • A durable, single-use, and puncture resistant container with a lid. The container can be a manufactured sharps container or a thick plastic bottle (see examples below).
• Pick up

  Do not pick up used syringes with your hands.

  If you find a syringe or needle, do not pick it up with your hands, even when wearing gloves. In addition to wearing thick gloves, use a tool such as tongs or pliers that puts adequate distance between your physical self and the needle so that there is no way the needle can prick you.

• Disposal

  • Always place used sharps and syringes in a safe container with the needle pointing down.
  • To minimize accidental punctures do not recap needles.  Place used uncapped needles and syringes directly into a safe container (see examples below).
  • Do not bend or break the needle off from the syringe. If the needle gets broken off from the syringe, wear thick gloves, use a tool such as tongs or pliers to pick up the needle, and put it directly into a safe container (see examples below).
  • After the sharps are in a safe container:
    • see your personal disposal options such as drop boxes or mail-in services.
    • for businesses, view disposal options for business-generated sharps.