Proper Disposal of Medical Sharps

 Overview

Properly disposing of medical sharps helps protect people, animals, sanitation workers, and the environment from accidental needle sticks and injuries.

Safe Disposal Options

Residents have several options for safely disposing of used medical sharps.

Use a Sharps Disposal Container

Some pharmacies sell prepaid, mail-ready sharps containers. These containers can be used to safely store and dispose of used syringes and other medical sharps.

Place Sharps in Household Trash

Under Texas regulations, household-generated medical sharps may be placed in a hard plastic or metal container with a tightly secured lid. The container may then be placed in the household trash.

Never place used medical sharps directly in the trash.

Always use a puncture-resistant container with a tightly secured lid to help prevent accidental needle sticks and injuries.

Fire Station Disposal

Please do not take used medical sharps to City fire stations for disposal.

Additional Resources

For more information about safely disposing of household-generated syringes, see:

• Disposing of Syringes from Households: Do's and Don'ts