“Sharps” - Household Medical Waste Disposal

As of September 1, 2008, the approval of AB 501 provides additional options for the safe and proper management of “sharps” which are defined as items with a sharp tip, i.e. hypodermic needles, pen needles, lancets, syringes or any other device with a sharp tip that penetrates the skin for blood tests or self injections. AB 501 requires sharps manufacturers to provide customers, upon request, a sharps container or postage prepaid, mail-back sharps container. To increase the flexibility for manufacturers to comply with this requirement, they may also provide a coupon for a sharps container, or a toll-free telephone number or website that directs the patient to a sharps container supplier. In addition, residents can also dispose of their safely contained sharps at an LA County operated SAFE (Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics) Collection Center or an LA County operated Household Hazardous Waste collection event.

Remember, trash is handled by people at recycling facilities and landfills. Sharps carelessly thrown in the trash can injure and infect workers.

For more information, please contact your sharps supplier and/or manufacturer, call 1-888-CLEANLA or log onto www.888CleanLA to find a SAFE center or a collection event near you.