Home Generated Sharps

As of September 1, 2008 changes in the California Health and Safety Code, Medical Waste Management Act, prohibits the disposal of home-generated sharps into any container used for the collection of regular trash, recycling or green waste.

“Home-generated sharps waste” is defined as hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications derived from a household, including a multifamily residence or household.  Home-generated sharps waste also includes sharps used to deliver medication to pets.

Home-generated sharps waste must be placed into an approved biohazard sharps containers and disposed of by one of the following methods:

1. Taken to a household hazardous waste collection facility. Not all household hazardous waste collection facilities can accept sharps waste, contact facility prior to transportation for further information.
2. Taken to a “home-generated sharps consolidation point”.  Please refer to the “Don’t get stuck with used “sharps” flyer for information and a list of sites can be found  information and a list of these locations.
3. Taken to a medical waste generator facility (i.e. private doctor’s office). Contact your doctor’s office prior to transporting sharps waste, not all offices accept sharps waste.
4. Using a sharps waste mail-back service approved by the California Department of Public Health.

Additional information regarding home-generated sharps waste may be found at: