Needles and Sharps

Never put needles and sharps in a recycling or landfill container!

How to Handle Sharps Safely and Legally

Sharps should be transported in an approved red sharps container or other similar rigid container. Sharps transported in plastic bags, paper bags or other non-puncture resistant containers will be refused for collection.

Immediately after use, place sharps in the container point down.
Do not attempt to bend or break the needle or syringe.
Do not put the cap back on the needle.
Keep all sharps and disposal containers out of reach of children.

Approved Disposal Methods

Personal Physician: Contact your medical provider. They may accept your sharps as a courtesy to you.

Did you receive a prescription that required the use of medical sharps, or do you have medical sharps you need to dispose of? SB 212 created an industry-funded and operated statewide stewardship program, at no cost to the public. Your pharmacy is required to provide a sharps mail back container at no cost you at the point or sale or within five days of receiving the medical sharps. If you did not receive a free container, you may request one online at sharpstakebackcalifornia.org or by calling (844) 482-5322. After you receive the mail back container, put the medical sharps the container and seal it. Place filled container in the provided ship back box included in original shipment. Drop the packaged container in any USPS outgoing mail with prepaid, preaddressed shipping label.

Sharps collection locations in Butte County can be found through CalRecycle on their Pharmacy & Sharps Waste Program List.

It is against the law to leave any material at these locations after hours.

Check SharpsTakeBackCalifornia.org for more details.