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                Safely Using Sharps (Needles and Syringes) at Home, at Work and on Travel

Safely Using Sharps (Needles and Syringes) at Home, at Work and on Travel

                        Sharps Disposal Containers
          Best Way to Get Rid of Used Needles and Other Sharps
          Sharps Disposal Containers in Health Care Facilities
          What to Do if You Can't Find a Sharps Disposal Container
          Disposal of Sharps Outside of Health Care Facilities
          Report Problems Associated with Sharps and Disposal Containers
          DOs and DON'Ts of Proper Sharps Disposal
          Free Printable Visual Learning Guides for Safe Sharps Disposal Home
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          Safely Using Sharps (Needles and Syringes) at Home, at Work and on Travel
          Disposal of Sharps Outside of Health Care FacilitiesSafely Using Sharps (Needles and Syringes) at Home, at Work and on Travel Disposal of Sharps Outside of Health Care Facilities
  
  	
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    PrintDisposal of Sharps by Health Care Facilities

The information on this page is intended for use by consumers, including patients, family members, and home health caregivers to address disposal of used needles and other sharps used at home, at work, and when traveling. This page is **not** for health care facilities.

For information on sharps disposal at health care facilities or disposal of regulated medical waste by health care personnel outside of health care facilities, see Sharps Disposal Containers in Health Care Facilities.


Tips for Health Care Providers

Health care providers should advise their patients on the safe disposal of needles and other sharps. The following information should help health care providers counsel their patients about safe sharps disposal:

Find out about the sharps disposal programs available in your area and share this information with your patients. If pamphlets are available, consider placing them in your office waiting area.
	To learn about sharps disposal guidelines and programs in your community, visit the Safe Needle Disposal  Web site for more information specific to your state.
	Print out the DOs and DON’Ts of proper sharps disposal for your patients.Sharps disposal container mounted in a restroom between two towel dispensers
Tips for Employers and Businesses

The risk of needle sticks, cuts and punctures from needles and other sharps is high in facilities such as airports, hotels, restaurants, and office buildings. In these places, people are more likely to throw their used needles and sharps into the trash.

Employers and businesses should consider providing sharps disposal containers in restrooms or other designated areas and make employees and guests aware of the location of the containers. Businesses with sharps disposal containers in their restrooms may need to register with their state and/or local authorities as a "sharps collection station" because they may be considered “waste generators." Contact your state and/or local authorities for legal requirements that apply to the waste generated on their premises.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      04/28/2021
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Medical DevicesSafely Using Sharps (Needles and Syringes) at Home, at Work and on Travel

          
                        Sharps Disposal Containers
          Best Way to Get Rid of Used Needles and Other Sharps
          Sharps Disposal Containers in Health Care Facilities
          What to Do if You Can't Find a Sharps Disposal Container
          Disposal of Sharps Outside of Health Care Facilities
          Report Problems Associated with Sharps and Disposal Containers
          DOs and DON'Ts of Proper Sharps Disposal
          Free Printable Visual Learning Guides for Safe Sharps Disposal
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