How to Throw Away Sharp Waste from the Hospital

Sharps are objects or devices with edges or corners that can pierce or cut the skin or even regular waste bags. In the healthcare industry, sharp waste comprises needles, syringes, lancets, microscopic slides, some medical tubes, broken glass, or any object that can pierce the skin.

Sharps are a hazardous waste since they can be contaminated with pathogens that may pose a risk to human health. Used needles and other sharps can carry viruses like HIV, hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, passing on to other people.

For this reason, there are particular guidelines for disposing of needles and others sharps to prevent passing on the pathogens. These wastes need to be autoclaved and disinfected. In some instances, sharps amy need to be shredded not to be used again. 

Sharps should not be placed in other bins, like household bins, as this can increase the risk for accidental injury.

To prevent the spread of infection, the FDA recommends various guidelines for disposing of sharps:

• According to the FDA, all sharps should be placed in a sharps disposal container after use to reduce the risk of cuts and punctures. Ensure that you do not overfill the disposal container, increasing the risk of accidental injury.
• Once the sharps disposal container is three-quarters full, dispose of it following the local guidelines. You can drop it at supervised collection sites, mail-back programs, or household hazardous waste collection sites.

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