Safe Disposal of Needles, Syringes, and Sharps

"Sharps" — needles, syringes, lancets, auto-injectors, pen needles, and infusion sets — must never go in your trash or recycling bin. It's illegal, and loose sharps can injure sanitation workers and others who handle waste. Free, safe disposal options are available throughout Alameda County.

What Counts as Sharps

• Needles and syringes
• Lancets (finger-prick devices)
• Auto-injectors (EpiPens, insulin pens)
• Pen needles
• Infusion sets

Container Requirements

Place sharps in an FDA-approved sharps disposal container immediately after use. For drop-off at pharmacy kiosks, containers cannot exceed one gallon.

Where to get free containers:

• Most pharmacies and drugstores provide free sharps containers
• The California Sharps Mail Back Program offers free containers by mail
• Ask your health provider about sharps containers when your prescription is written

Disposal Options

• Pharmacy & Drugstore Kiosks - Drop off sealed sharps containers at participating pharmacies throughout Alameda County. No appointment needed. Find the closest options via RE:Source.
• Mail-Back Programs - Free shipping labels and envelopes are available through Med-Project and some pharmaceutical companies for mailing filled containers.
• HHW Facilities - All four Alameda County HHW drop-off facilities accept sharps containers for free.
• Police Stations - Some local police stations accept sharps containers — check with your nearest station.
• One-Day Events - HHW one-day events also accept sharps containers.

Safety Tips

• Never recap, bend, or break needles before disposal
• Use the sharps container immediately — don't set used sharps aside
• Keep sharps containers out of reach of children and pets
• When the container is three-quarters full, seal it and dispose of it

Related

• Medicine disposal
• HHW Facilities