How to Dispose of Sharps:
Sharps can be disposed of in containers made specifically to hold sharps; these may be provided by a healthcare professional or purchased at a pharmacy or online. If you do not have a container made specifically for sharps, a bottle with strong plastic, a laundry detergent bottle or a bleach bottle, may be used.
View the Home Generated Waste Disposal Flyer (PDF)
How to Dispose of Household Sharps:
- Use rigid containers with strong plastic and screw on caps – such as laundry detergent or bleach bottles. Do NOT use soda bottles, glass bottles, or other containers where the cap can come off easily.
- Avoid removing, bending, breaking, or recapping needles used by others to prevent needle sticks.
- Fill the container no more than ¾ full; do not overfill. Close the cap each time a sharp is put into the container.
- Seal the container and wrap duct or electrical tape around the cap area.
- Label the bottle with a warning in permanent marker, such as “CAUTION-SYRINGES/NEEDLES. DO NOT RECYCLE”
- Keep containers out of reach of children and pets.
- When you are ready to throw away the container, put it in the trash. DO NOT RECYCLE.
Safe Syringe Locations
- Capital Health System (Hopewell) - 1 Capital Way, Pennington, NJ 08534 – 800-637-2374
- Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center - 1 Plainsboro Rd, Plainsboro, NJ 08536 – 866-460-4776
- Hyacinth Foundation - 849 W. State Street, Trenton, NJ 08618
