What is Sharps Waste Disposal?
Sharps waste, by definition, is a type of (bio)medical waste that contains any tool or anything that may pierce or cut the skin, hence the name “sharps.” They get categorized as biohazardous medical waste, which means they’re potentially damaging to humans and animals alike. Consequently, needless that sharps waste disposal needs to get handled with extreme caution. Even autoclaving would not be enough to treat such a dangerous form of biomedical waste alone, which is why you’ll need a machine that not only sterilizes but also shreds it.
Examples of Sharps Waste
- Razors, scalpels, and disposable blades
- Needles, syringes, and hypothermic and blunted needles
- The glass that is broken and tainted
- Slides for microscopy
- a few medical tubes
- Some plastics are recyclable.
Steps of Sharps Waste Disposal
For safely disposing of spent needles and other sharps, the FDA advises a two-step method.
Step 1: Immediately after use, put all needles and other sharps in a sharps disposal receptacle.
Needlesticks, wounds, and puncture wounds from loose sharps will get reduced as a result. Containers for sharps disposal must get kept out of access of children and pets. Note that pressurized a sharps disposal container raises the danger of a needle stick injury. Once your sharps disposal box is around three-quarters (3/4) filled, dispose of it according to your community’s rules (Step 2, below).
Sharps disposal containers should not get reused.
Step 2: Follow your community’s standards for disposing of discarded sharps disposal containers.
The rules and programs for disposing of sharps differ based on where you reside. To find out which of the following disposal techniques are available in your area, contact your local garbage pickup agency or health department.
Supervised Collection Sites or Drop Boxes
You might well be able to shed off your sharps disposal containers at various locations, including doctors’ offices, clinics, pharmacies, medical centers, clinical waste facilities, and police and fire stations.
Gathering of Household Hazardous Waste
Sharps disposal containers may get dropped off at nearby public household hazardous waste collection stations. Hazardous chemicals, such as home cleaners, paints, and motor oil, are frequently accepted at these locations.
Residential Special Waste Collection
Your city might offer waste management services, which send out trained special waste handlers to your home to collect sharps disposal containers. Customers must phone and request pickups for some programs, while others have set pickup times.
