Part of MED-Project’s mission is to reach out to the local community and educate residents about proper disposal of unwanted household medication and sharps.
What Should You Do With Your Sharps?
Medicines help treat diseases, manage chronic conditions, and improve health and well-being for millions of Americans. It is important that patients take their medicine as prescribed by their health care provider and as indicated on the label or packaging. It is also important to be sure to store sharps securely to prevent accidental ingestion, sticks or misuse by others, especially children. There are a number of ways to dispose of unwanted sharps.
Sharps Disposal
Accepted: Sharps (such as hypodermic needles, pen needles, pre-loaded sharps, auto-injectors, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices used to penetrate the skin for drawing blood or for the delivery of medicines) contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared sharps containers.
Not Accepted: Controlled substances, unwanted medicines not contained in sharps, and loose sharps that are not contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared sharps containers.
Disposal of Household Sharps
Check the Package
If there are specific instructions on the label, package or package insert, please follow those instructions.
Never place sharps in the trash or recycling, and never flush them down the toilet. Disposing of sharps in the trash or recycling may put trash and sewage workers, janitors, housekeepers, household members, and children at risk of being harmed.
Convenient Locations
To find kiosk sites in your area, visit the Convenient Locations section of www.med-project.org. Mail-Back Distribution Locations may also be available in your area.
Mail-Back
Mail-Back Services are available in your area. To order a Mail-Back package, visit the Mail-Back section of www.med-project.org.
Take-Back Events
Local take-back events offer residents a free and convenient way to dispose of sharps. For information on events in your area, visit the Take-Back Events section of www.med-project.org.
Sharps can be dangerous to people and pets if not disposed of safely. Sharps can cause injuries and/or spread infections that cause serious health conditions. These infections may include: Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Safe sharps disposal is important whether you are at home, at work, at school, traveling, or in other public places such as hotels, parks, and restaurants. Pet owners who use needles to give medicine to their pets should follow the same sharps disposal guidelines used for humans.
Sharps Disposal Containers
All sharps disposal containers should be made of heavy-duty plastic; able to close with a tight-fitting, puncture resistant lid without sharps being able to come out; upright and stable during use; leak-resistant; and properly labeled as “sharps waste” or with the biohazard symbol and the word “BIOHAZARD” to warn of hazardous materials inside the container.
Place all sharps in a sharps disposal container immediately after they have been used. This will reduce the risk of needle sticks, cuts, and punctures from sharps. Sharps disposal containers should be kept out of reach of children and pets
Do Not Reuse Sharps Disposal Containers
For more information about the MED-Project program, visit www.med-project.org or call 1 844 MED-PROJECT or 1-844-633-7765 (TTY: 7 11)
