Sharps Waste Services

Sharps waste consists of contaminated medical devices capable of puncturing or cutting skin, including needles, syringes, lancets, scalpels, and other sharp instruments. Because sharps can cause injuries and potential exposure to infectious materials, they require specialized handling and disposal procedures.

Sharps waste is a subcategory of biohazardous waste that includes contaminated items capable of puncturing or cutting skin. Because sharps present a risk of needlestick injuries and potential exposure to infectious materials, they must be collected and managed separately using approved sharps disposal containers. For more information, review Sharps 101: Understanding Sharps Waste and Proper Needle Disposal.

Proper sharps disposal helps reduce the risk of needlestick injuries, exposure to potentially infectious materials, and environmental contamination. A compliant sharps waste disposal program can also help healthcare organizations meet federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.

A sharps container is a puncture-resistant container used to safely collect and store sharps waste, including needles, syringes, lancets, and scalpels. Sharps containers help reduce the risk of needlestick injuries and support compliant sharps waste disposal practices.

Sharps containers are designed for contaminated items that can puncture skin or packaging, including needles, syringes, lancets, scalpels, and certain injectable medication devices. Facilities should always follow applicable regulations and organizational policies regarding sharps disposal.

Reusable sharps containers are designed to be professionally processed, disinfected, and returned to service multiple times. Many healthcare facilities choose reusable sharps containers to help support workplace safety, improve operational efficiency, and reduce container waste.

Disposable sharps containers are single-use containers that are disposed of after collection. They provide a convenient sharps waste management option for facilities that prefer self-service programs or generate smaller volumes of sharps waste.

Reusable sharps containers are professionally serviced, disinfected, and returned to use, making them a popular option for higher-volume healthcare facilities. Disposable sharps containers are discarded after a single use and may be appropriate for smaller facilities or self-managed sharps disposal programs.

Sharps waste should be placed in an FDA-approved sharps container and managed through a compliant sharps disposal program. Disposal requirements vary by location and facility type, but proper handling helps reduce injury risks and support regulatory compliance.

The appropriate schedule for servicing or replacing sharps containers depends on the volume of sharps waste your facility generates, available storage space, container size, and applicable regulatory requirements. Each healthcare facility is responsible for determining a service frequency that aligns with its needs and regulatory obligations. WM can provide resources to help educate you on medical waste storage requirements in your state, helping you make an informed decision about your collection schedule.

Sharps disposal services are commonly used by hospitals, surgery centers, physician practices, dental offices, pharmacies, laboratories, veterinary clinics, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare programs.

Certain healthcare facilities may benefit from solutions such as SharpsRX Pro™, which is designed to support the collection of both sharps waste and qualifying non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste through a single program.