Sharps Containers

It is illegal for needles and other sharps to be placed into trash or recycling containers since they could cause an injury. Sharps must be placed in a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container immediately after they have been used. “Sharps” is a medical term for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin. Examples of sharps include needles, syringes, lancets, auto injectors (such as EpiPens), and infusions sets.
Disposal Options:
- Sharps can be dropped-off at any of the Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste facilities.
- Other drop-off options: many pharmacies, drugstores, and police stations offer drop-off kiosks, see below for a full list. Make sure sharps are placed in a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container no greater than one gallon in volume.
- Mail-back: Free FDA-cleared sharps containers may be obtained from Med-Project by phone at 1 (844) 633-7765 or online, order by clicking here.
- CalRecycle has additional information about sharps disposal.
- Search our RE:Source guide for other locations.
Special Instructions:
Sharps must be placed in a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container immediately after they have been used. FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers are available at most chain pharmacies and drugstores. Check with your health provider for information about disposal containers at the time your prescription is written. If you have difficulty finding a container call Household Hazardous waste at 800-606-6606.
Locations that Accept Sharps Containers*
Name | City | Address |
---|---|---|
CVS Pharmacy | Alameda | 931 Marina Village Parkway |
Berkeley Police Department | Berkeley | 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way |
CVS Pharmacy | Berkeley | 2655 Telegraph Ave. |
CVS Pharmacy | Castro Valley | 3667 Castro Valley Blvd. |
CVS Pharmacy | Dublin | 7201 Regional St. |
Capsule Pharmacy | Fremont | 2557 Mowry Ave., #11 |
CVS Pharmacy | Fremont | 2000 Driscoll Rd. |
CVS Pharmacy | Fremont | 4020 Fremont Blvd. |
Haller's Pharmacy and Medical Supply | Fremont | 37323 Fremont Blvd. |
CVS Pharmacy | Hayward | 22501 Foothill Blvd. |
CVS Pharmacy | Hayward | 26059 Mission Blvd. |
CVS Pharmacy | Hayward | 243 West Jackson St. |
Mission Pharmacy | Hayward | 22138 Mission Blvd. |
Ted's Drugs | Hayward | 27453 Hesperian Blvd. |
Tennyson Pharmacy | Hayward | 589 W. Tennyson |
CVS Pharmacy | Livermore | 1500 1st St. |
CVS Pharmacy | Livermore | 4405 1st St. |
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy #241 | Livermore | 3000 Las Positas Rd. |
CVS Pharmacy | Newark | 35080 Newark Blvd. |
CVS Pharmacy | Oakland | 7200 Bancroft Ave. |
CVS Pharmacy | Oakland | 4100 Redwood Rd. |
CVS Pharmacy | Oakland | 344 Thomas L. Berkeley Way |
New Oakland Pharmacy #1 | Oakland | 333 9th St. |
New Oakland Pharmacy #2 | Oakland | 388 9th St. #108 |
New Oakland Pharmacy Lake Merritt | Oakland | 250 East 18th St. |
Wellspring Pharmacy | Oakland | 4184 C Piedmont Ave. |
Piedmont Police Department | Piedmont | 403 Highland Ave. |
CVS Pharmacy | Pleasanton | 3010 Bernal Ave. |
CVS Pharmacy | Pleasanton | 6750 Bernal Ave. |
Kaiser Health Plan South 1 PHY 471 | Pleasanton | 7601 Stoneridge Drive |
CVS Pharmacy | San Leandro | 1550 East 14th St. |
CVS Pharmacy | San Leandro | 14869 East 14th St. |
CVS Pharmacy | San Leandro | 699 Lewelling Blvd. |
*Make sure sharps are placed in a FDA-cleared disposal container no greater than one gallon in volume.