What Can Go in a Sharps Container?
mproper sharps disposal is one of the most common compliance mistakes healthcare facilities make. Knowing what belongs in a sharps container helps protect your staff, waste handlers, and patients from accidental needlestick injuries and exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
What Is a Sharps Container?
A sharps container is a puncture-resistant, leak-resistant container designed specifically for the disposal of sharps. Once full, the entire container is collected and disposed of through a licensed medical waste provider.
What CAN Go in a Sharps Container?
Items that can puncture the skin should always be disposed of in a sharps container, including:
Needles
Syringes with attached needles
Lancets
Scalpel blades
IV catheter stylets
Suture needles
Auto-injectors
Dental needles
Broken glass contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials (where allowed by your facility's policy)
When in doubt, if an item is capable of puncturing the skin, it likely belongs in a sharps container.
What Should NOT Go in a Sharps Container?
Many items are mistakenly thrown into sharps containers, reducing available space and increasing disposal costs.
Do not place these items in a sharps container unless required by your facility's policies:
Gloves
Gauze
Surgical drapes
Face masks
Paper towels
Empty medication packaging
General office trash
Food or drink waste
These items typically belong in a red biohazard bag or regular trash, depending on whether they are contaminated and your facility's waste management procedures.
When Should You Replace a Sharps Container?
Never allow a sharps container to become overfilled.
Most manufacturers recommend replacing the container when it reaches the fill line, usually around ¾ full. Overfilled containers increase the risk of accidental needlestick injuries and make safe disposal more difficult.
Why Proper Sharps Disposal Matters
Proper sharps disposal helps:
Protect healthcare workers from needlestick injuries
Reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens
Maintain OSHA compliance
Improve workplace safety
Ensure medical waste is transported safely
Need the Right Sharps Container?
Not every healthcare facility generates the same amount of sharps waste. Choosing the correct container size and pickup schedule can improve efficiency while helping control disposal costs.
If you're unsure which sharps container is right for your practice, BeWise Medical Waste can help you choose the best solution based on your facility's needs.