Sharps Safety and Disposal

What are Sharps?

• Items capable of puncturing, cutting, or abrading the skin, such as:
  • Glass: pipettes, broken bottles and chipped beakers
  • Blades: scalpels, razor, saw blades
  • Needles: needles, syringes with needles, 3D printer nozzle cleaning needles

How to Handle and Store Sharps

• Use appropriate PPE for the task
• Do not re-cap needles
• Use an appropriate puncture proof container:
  • Plastic sharps box with safety flap for needles and blades.
  • Cardboard box with liner for broken glass or a plastic container.- DO not use household or food containers.
• Do not overfill a container. Broken glass boxes should not exceed 20 pounds.
• Ensure sharps are not protruding through the container sides or lid.

Sharps Disposal

• There are 3 categories when disposing of sharps: chemical contaminated, biological contaminated and uncontaminated (clean).
• Chemically and biologically contaminated sharps require pickup by EHS.
  • Submit a chemical waste pickup request when any chemicals (e.g. solvents, acids, bases) were used. Enter the type of sharps and all trace chemical contaminants.
  • Submit a biological waste request when only exposed to biological materials (e.g. animal tissue, plants, bacteria, infectious organisms).
  • Clean broken glass. Proper broken glass collection box should be taped and marked as “clean glass, safe for disposal” then placed near trash receptacles for pickup by building services
• Ensure container lids are properly closed and secure.
• Label and package as required by the type of contamination (chemical, biological or uncontaminated).

Plastic sharps containers and broken glass boxes can be purchased from one of the Fisher Stores on campus or through your department purchasing agent.

Contact

Environmental Health and Safety
hazwaste@purdue.edu
765-494-0121