How to Dispose of Sharps

These sharps must be free of any biohazard, chemical, or radioactive contamination.

• Container:
  • Choose a rigid, leak-proof, puncture-resistant sharps container. Containers sold at STORE fit most needs.
  • Remove or deface any labels or biohazard symbols that may be on the container.
• Use:
  • Store the container near where the sharps are generated.
  • Carefully place sharps in the container in an orderly fashion.
  • Do not place free liquids, such as full syringes, in sharps containers.
  • Sharps cannot extend above the "fill" line.
• Disposal:
  • Seal the full container with tape so it can't be easily opened.
  • Place the sealed container in the regular trash.

These are sharps contaminated with radioactive materials. They may also be contaminated with chemical or infectious materials, but must be handled first as radioactive waste.

• Container:
  • Select a rigid, leak-proof, puncture-resistant container. Containers available from STORE fit most needs.
• Labeling:
  • Remove or deface biohazard symbols that may be on the container.
  • Label the container with a radioactive hazardous waste tag. List all of the following information:
    • Isotope used
    • Any additional chemicals or biological hazards
    • Method of deactivation or disinfection used, if any
    • Mark the waste type as "other" and write SHARPS on the tag
• Use:
  • Store the container near where the waste is generated.
  • Deactivate any infectious agents.
    Caution: Some isotopes may react with certain deactivation chemicals. For example, you don't want to bleach isotopes of iodine.
    • Contact the EH&S Biosafety Division, (858) 534-5366, for assistance with deactivation.
    • See Summary of Disinfectants for recommended disinfectants, their uses, and requirements.
  • Do not place free liquids, such as full syringes, in sharps containers.
  • Sharps cannot extend above the "fill" line.
• Disposal:
  • When the container's full, seal it and move it to the lab's designated radioactive waste storage area.
  • Request a hazardous waste collection from EH&S.

These sharps have chemical contamination only — no radioactive or infectious contaminates.

• Container:
  • Select a rigid, leak-proof, puncture-resistant container. Containers sold at STORE fit most needs.
• Labeling:
  • Label the container with a chemical hazardous waste tag.
  • Remove or deface any other labels or biohazard symbols on the container.
• Use:
  • Store the container near where the waste is generated.
  • Deactivate any infectious agents on sharps before placing them in the container.
    • See Summary of Disinfectants for recommended disinfectants, their uses, and requirements.
  • Carefully place sharps in the container in an orderly fashion.
  • Do not place liquids, such as full syringes, in sharps containers.
  • Sharps cannot extend above the "fill" line.
• Disposal: When the container is full, request a hazardous waste collection from Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S).

Sharps box with biohazard symbol

• Read Biosafety Overview for a description of waste disposal:
  • Campus locations (PDF)
  • Hillcrest locations (PDF)
• Container:
  • Select a rigid, leak-proof, puncture-resistant container. Sharps containers available from STORE fit most needs.
• Labeling:
  • Label the sharps container with the international biohazard symbol and UCSD identification information:
    • Campus locations:
      • University of California, San Diego
      • 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
      • (858) 534-3660
      • Building name and room number where the waste was generated
    • Medical Center locations:
      • UCSD Medical Center
      • 200 West Arbor Drive
      • San Diego, CA 92103
      • (619) 543-6222
      • Building name and room number where the waste was generated
• Use:
  • Do not place free liquids, such as full syringes, in sharps containers.
  • Sharps cannot extend above the "fill" line.
• Disposal:
  • Place the full sharps container in your department's designated biohazardous waste collection area to have it autoclaved, deactivated, or hauled for destruction. Ask your lab manager for instructions.
  • For autoclaving information, read Autoclaving Guidelines for Biohazardous Waste.