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Syringes & Needles (Sharps)

It is illegal for needles and other sharps to be placed into trash or recycling containers since they could cause an injury. Needles and syringes, lancets, pen needles, auto injectors (ex. EpiPens), and infusion sets are examples of Sharps.

Sharps Containers:

Sharps must be placed in a FDA-approved sharps disposal container immediately after they have been used. “Sharps” is a medical term for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin. 

Free FDA-approved sharps containers may be ordered online by clicking here(link is external) through the California Sharps Mail Back program. The pharmaceutical company(link is external) that your injectable medication comes from may offer a free sharps container program.

Disposal Options:

  • Sharps containers can be dropped-off at any of the Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Facilities, including sizes above 1 gallon.
  • Many local pharmacies, drugstores, and police stations in California offer drop-off kiosks/boxes for free safe disposal that are available during open hours. Search our RE:Source guide for a location near you.
    • To note: The kiosk opening physically restricts the size of sharps containers to no greater than one gallon in volume.
  • Mail-back:
    • Free shipping labels and envelopes to mail in your sharps container for safe disposal are available through Med-Project. Some pharmaceutical companies also offer free mail-back of sharps containers to their injectables patients.
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