Safe personal disposal of sharps Published Jan. 5, 2015 By 412th Medical Group EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At the 412th Medical Group, we recognize proper management and disposal of sharps safely reduces pollution, prevents injury, and averts disease transmission. A sharp is generally any hypodermic needle, pen needle, intravenous needle, lancet, or other device used to penetrate the skin to assist in assessment or treatment of a condition or delivery of medication. Protecting the public from improper disposal of sharps has become an increasingly important issue and several states have passed or are considering legislation to make it illegal to dispose of sharps in household trash. It is unlawful to throw sharps of any kind into the household garbage in the state of California. Since Sept. 1, 2009, state law (Section 118286 of the California Health and Safety Code) makes it illegal to dispose of loose sharps in the trash or recycling containers. Improper disposal of sharps may place others at risk. Throwing sharps unprotected into the trash can pose a health risk to public and waste workers. For example, discarded needles may expose waste workers to potential needle stick injuries and potential infection when containers break open inside garbage trucks. Janitors and housekeepers also risk injury if loose sharps pierce through plastic garbage bags. Used needles can transmit serious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Proper Disposal of Sharps · Never place loose sharps in the garbage. · Used sharps should be placed in sharps containers and taken to appropriate collection sites that may include doctors' offices, hospitals, pharmacies, health departments, fire stations or other locations. · At Edwards AFB's main clinic, the 412th Medical Group laboratory will accept used sharps already placed in a sharps container. If you do not have a sharps container, the laboratory will allow you to dispose of your sharps into their sharps container. For obtaining a sharps container, you can ask your provider for a prescription. · Do not store used sharps in glass bottles, soda bottles, milk jugs, aluminum cans, or coffee cans. · Always keep storage containers for used sharps out of reach of children. Information for patients complying with California sharps disposal law: https://web.archive.org/web/20140110234216/http://safeneedledisposal.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=68 If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the 412th Medical Group Laboratory at 661-277-2306.