California Household Management of Medical Waste

California Household Medical Waste Management

‍

California medical waste management regulations are not just for businesses who generate medical waste, rules also apply to households who generate medical waste.

This blog will serve as a guide to properly disposing of household sharps and pharmaceutical waste.

‍

Needles & Other Sharps Waste

‍

CalRecycle has some information and resources on Household Sharps Waste Disposal.

‍

Step 1: Place the sharps or needles inside of a container specifically made for disposing of needles and other sharps waste immediately after use. If this is not available to you, the FDA outlines using heavy duty plastic containers such as laundry detergent containers so long as it: remains upright during use, is leak resistant, and has a tight fitting and puncture-resistant lid.

‍

‍Step 2: Make sure you do not fill the sharps container past 3/4ths full, and store it in a place where it is secure and inaccessible.

‍

Step 3: Once full, seal the container and take the sharps container to a free drop off station. A drop off station can typically be found in your area by searching your county or city name alongside “household sharps disposal.” Most counties in California offer disposal programs free of charge for residents. Also, many counties in California have sharps kiosks. Safe Needle Disposal lists resources as well.

‍

It is crucial that you are not throwing needles and other sharps waste into the regular garbage. Since sharps can puncture through bags and transmit bloodborne pathogens, they need to be properly contained for disposal.

‍

Medications

‍

Step 1: Do not leave medications laying around, and dispose of them once they are no longer of use.

‍

Step 2: Check the label of your medication for special instructions

‍

Step 3: Check Don't Rush To Flush or your counties local resources for a drop-off location

‍

Step 4: Place your medications into a zip lock bag and bring them to a local drop off location

‍

Step 5: If absolutely no drop-off locations are available to you and there are no take back programs upcoming, follow FDA guidelines to properly dispose of your medications.

‍

You should not flush or dispose of pharmaceuticals as regular trash. Pharmaceutical pollution is a growing problem and even low levels of pollution have been shown to be very damaging to aquatic life alongside other environmental issues.

‍