Needles and Sharps

Needles and Sharps!

Illegal in Garbage & Drains

Never put needles in the trash or recycling. They can prick sanitation workers or trash haulers, and cause injury or infection.

Special Directions

As of a 2008 California law, it is illegal to dispose of sharps waste in the trash or recycling.

How to Dispose of Sharps Waste 
1. Purchase an approved bio-hazard sharps container from a local pharmacy or utilize a state-approved mail-back service.

2. Drop off sharps at a collection facility.
REMEMBER: Sharps must be transported in an approved bio-hazard container. 

Where do I purchase an approved bio-hazard container? 

Rite Aid Pharmacy
11230 Donner Pass Road | (530) 587-5296
Map & Directions

CVS Drug Store & Pharmacy
11411 Deerfield Drive | (530) 587-5775
Map & Directions

Tahoe Forest Pharmacy
10956 Donner Pass Road | (530) 587-7607
Map & Directions

Where do I drop off my sharps for free disposal? 

Eastern Regional Landfill accepts home-generated sharps waste from area residents free of charge. Sharps must be delivered in an approved bio-hazard sharps container Tuesday – Saturday 8am – 4pm.

Tahoe Forest Pharmacy accepts sharps waste only from their patients. Return your sharps waste when refilling your prescription.

Where do I locate a certified mail-back service provider?

The following mail-back services are authorized for use in California by the California Department of Public Health. Note that many of these services provide mail back kits, which is a simple way to manage all of your home-generated sharps waste.

GRP & Associates
sharpsdisposal.com | (800) 207-0976

Sharps Compliance, Inc.
sharpsinc.com | (800) 772-5657

Stericycle, Inc.
stericycle.com

WCM
wcminc.net | (866) 436-9264

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