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Sharps Disposal San Diego

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Sharps Container Disposal Service In San Diego

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About Our Sharps Container Disposal Service

San Diego Medical Waste Services is your go-to resource for safe and reliable sharps container disposal. With our wide selection of services, you can be sure that your sharps disposal needs are taken care of. We have the experience and expertise to get the job done right, providing you with a safe disposal solution. Contact us today and let us help you take care of your sharps disposal needs.

Community Leading Sharps Disposal Services

At San Diego Medical Waste Services, we are dedicated to keeping your business compliant and safe. We understand the importance of proper sharps handling and disposal, which is why we provide the best medical waste management services in the area. 

Price Lock Guarantee

We understand the importance of predictability when it comes to your finances. That is why we offer a price lock guarantee for our services. No increases for the duration of your service agreement.

No Additional Fees

We understand the importance of transparency and strive to provide our customers with a clear and hassle-free experience. No fuel fees, No energy fees, No additional fees.

Low Disposal Cost

By streamlining our processes, leveraging advanced routing and disposal technologies, we have successfully reduced the costs associated with disposal. You can confidently choose our services.

Locally Owned

When you choose to support our locally owned business, you can trust that you are making a positive impact on your community, as your patronage directly supports local jobs, services, and initiatives.

Veteran Owned

We are honored to be a veteran-owned business, founded and operated by individuals who have proudly served in the military. Our commitment to excellence, integrity, and service is deeply rooted in our military experience.

Total Compliance

By emphasizing total compliance, we aim to build trust with our stakeholders, protect our reputation, and contribute to a fair and sustainable business environment.

Why San Diego Medical Waste Is The Clear Choice?

What Is Sharps Waste?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Sharps are objects that can penetrate a worker’s skin, such as needles, scalpels, broken glass, capillary tubes and the exposed ends of dental wires. If blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), as defined in the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), are present or may be present on the
sharp, it is a contaminated sharp and appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn.

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  • Needles: Hollow needles used for injecting medications.

  • Syringes: With or without needles

  • Blood vials

  • Lancets: AKA “fingerstick” devices. These short, double-edged blades are used to get blood drops for testing. 

  • Infusion Sets: Tubing/needle systems used to deliver medications beneath the skin.

  • Connection Needles / Connection Sets: Needles that connect to tubes. Mainly used for home hemodialysis patients.

  • Scalpels and other blades.

  • Scissors: used to cut flesh or dressings.

  • Glass: Broken and  unbroken glass that hasn’t necessarily been contaminated may still need sharps disposal.

  • Sharp Plastic may need special disposal.

What Is Sharps Container?

A sharps container is a specialized container designed for the safe disposal of medical sharps, which are objects or instruments with sharp edges or points that can puncture the skin.  A “sharps container” means a rigid puncture-resistant container used in patient care or research activities meeting the standards of, and receiving approval from, the United States Food and Drug Administration as a medical device used for the collection of discarded medical needles or other sharps.

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The primary purpose of a sharps container is to provide a secure and hygienic method for collecting used sharps and preventing accidental injuries or infections that could occur from improper disposal.

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Sharps containers come in many sizes and shapes depending on the intended use and manufacture.  Typically sharps containers come in the following sizes:​

  • 1 quart sharps containers

  • 1 Gallon sharps containers

  • 5 Quart sharps containers

  • 2 Gallon sharps containers

  • 3 Gallon sharps containers

  • 5 Gallon sharps containers

  • 8 Gallon sharps containers

  • 10 Gallon sharps containers

*** Sharps containers are single use and are expendable to the generator.  Sharps containers may be purchased from San Diego Medical Waste Services separately from your disposal service by visiting https://www.sdmedwaste.com/shop

Where Should I Place My Sharps Container?

When placing your sharps container, it is important to consider safety, accessibility, and compliance with local regulations. San Diego Medical Waste recommends that sharps disposal containers be located with consideration of the following factors:

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  • Choose a secure location: Sharps are a "point of use disposal" item.  Select a secure location that is out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidental access or injury. Make sure the sharps container is stable and cannot be easily knocked over.

  • Keep sharps containers close to where sharps are used: Place the sharps container in a convenient location near where you typically use sharps. This should be in the area where you administer injections or perform medical procedures.

  • Use a locking sharps container wall mount when available: An ideal standing instillation height for a fixed sharps disposal container is 52 to 56 inches. (Place containers slightly below eye level.)

  • Healthcare workers should be able to comfortably view the entire inlet opening of the disposal container.

  • Containers should be located within arm's reach.

  • Place all needles and sharps in a verified sharps container immediately after use.

  • Storage requirements and community guidelines vary by state and county. Please check your local regulations state page for a full list of regulatory requirements.

What Should NOT Go Into A Sharps Container?

Sharps containers are reserved for those items that are contaminated and that could puncture the skin. Proper sharps handling and proper training can help ensure staff are fully aware of what can and cannot be disposed of in a sharps container.

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Things that should not be thrown in a sharps container include:

  • Medications: Sharps containers are not meant for the disposal of medications, including pills, liquids, or creams. Medications should be disposed of following specific guidelines provided by your local pharmacy, healthcare provider, or drug take-back programs. To learn more on medication and pharmaceutical disposal click here.

  • Tape, paper, bandages/gauze, exam gloves, alcohol preps (These items go into a biohazard waste container)

  • Aerosols or inhalers (These items are typically hazardous or "RCRA" Waste and go into a hazardous waste container

  • Garbage or liquids of any kind

  • Batteries of any type

  • Hazardous, chemical, radioactive or red bag waste (non-sharps regulated medical waste)

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  • YES! Sharps containers are single use and are expendable to the generator.  Sharps containers may be purchased from San Diego Medical Waste Services separately from your disposal service by visiting
    https://www.sdmedwaste.com/shop

  • The medical waste container labeling, San Diego County Ordinance SEC. 68.1205, was enacted in 1989 as a response to medical wastes that were washed ashore on area beaches and were found dumped in County landfills.  Proper labeling must include: generator’s name, address and phone number.

  • As of September 1, 2008, California State Law prohibits the disposal of home-generated sharps into any container used for the trash, recycling or green waste.

    San Diego Environmental Services Department 858-694-7000

    https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/ep/hazardous/needles-sharps

Frequently Asked Questions

The Sharps Disposal Answers You Need

Knowledge Center

Step 1

  • Prior to use, label each sharps container with your facility's name, address, and phone number. (California Law)

  • Place new sharps containers inside of wall mounts or on countertops within the immediate area of use (Sharps are a "point of use disposal" item.)

(San Diego County Ordinance SEC. 68.1205)

Placement & Labeling

Step 2

  • Immediately after use, place used sharps into the sharps container until the contents of the sharps container reach the "FULL" line

  • ​Once full or ready to dispose, tightly close the lid. Use locking tabs and tape when available.

(California Health And Safety Code SEC 117750)

Primary Sharps Waste Container

Step 3

  • On or before your scheduled service date, remove sharps containers from patient rooms and place the entire sharps container in an upright position inside of the regulated medical waste (RMW) container ensuring that no needles spill out.

  • Replace the now discarded sharps container with a new sharps container. 

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PRO TIP: Both sharps containers and biohazard bags are commingled into Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) containers for disposal.

(California Health And Safety Code SEC 118310)

Designated Accumulation Area

Step 4

  • On your scheduled service day, we will perform a one for one exchange of your onsite regulated medical waste (RMW) container and deliver any pre ordered products (sharps containers, biohazard bags, etc).

  • Any waste that does not make it into the medical waste container prior to our arrival may be placed into the new container for pickup on your next scheduled service day.

(California Health And Safety Code SEC 117660)

Scheduled Medical Waste Service

Sharps Container Disposal Guide

  • Immediately after use, place used sharps into the sharps container until the contents of the sharps container reach the "FULL" line

  • ​Once full or ready to dispose, tightly close the lid. Use locking tabs and tape when available.

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