A waste container comprising: a base having a bottom wall , a side wall and a top defining a receptacle for receiving sharps, the side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall , the top connectable to an upper portion of the side wall and having an opening having an outwardly curved rim; a lid having a closure part and a cap part , the cap part having an aperture therethrough and including a rim configured to engage the rim of the receptacle in an interference fit for sealing the lid to the top of the receptacle, the lid having a hinge connecting the closure part to the cap part , the hinge allowing the closure part to move to and from an open position which allows access to the aperture for placing sharps in the receptacle and a closed position covering the aperture and forming a leak resistant seal; a releasable lock structure ; and a permanent locking structure ; characterized in two first closure retention structures positioned on either side of the hinge on the lid , the first closure retention structures having a first projection on the cap part and a skirt portion having opposing edges on the closure part , the first projection being curved inwardly towards the hinge and increasing in height along the curve, the opposing edges of the skirt portion adapted to move along the first projection throughout the movement of the lid from a closed position to an open position, the first closure retention structures adapted to hold the closure part of the lid in a position between about 75° and about 135° relative to the cap part of the lid; and two second closure retention structures positioned on either side of the hinge on the lid , the second closure retention structures having projections on the cap part extending radially from the cap part and stops on the closure part of the lid , the stops aligned to interact with the projections on the cap part to hold the closure part of the lid in a position between about 180° and about 270° relative to the cap part of the lid . a base having a bottom wall , a side wall and a top defining a receptacle for receiving sharps, the side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall , the top connectable to an upper portion of the side wall and having an opening having an outwardly curved rim; a lid having a closure part and a cap part , the cap part having an aperture therethrough and including a rim configured to engage the rim of the receptacle in an interference fit for sealing the lid to the top of the receptacle, the lid having a hinge connecting the closure part to the cap part , the hinge allowing the closure part to move to and from an open position which allows access to the aperture for placing sharps in the receptacle and a closed position covering the aperture and forming a leak resistant seal; a releasable lock structure ; and a permanent locking structure ; characterized in two first closure retention structures positioned on either side of the hinge on the lid , the first closure retention structures having a first projection on the cap part and a skirt portion having opposing edges on the closure part , the first projection being curved inwardly towards the hinge and increasing in height along the curve, the opposing edges of the skirt portion adapted to move along the first projection throughout the movement of the lid from a closed position to an open position, the first closure retention structures adapted to hold the closure part of the lid in a position between about 75° and about 135° relative to the cap part of the lid; and two second closure retention structures positioned on either side of the hinge on the lid , the second closure retention structures having projections on the cap part extending radially from the cap part and stops on the closure part of the lid , the stops aligned to interact with the projections on the cap part to hold the closure part of the lid in a position between about 180° and about 270° relative to the cap part of the lid . <EOS>