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FAQs

What does the term 'sharps' mean?

Sharps is the term used to describe any item that is capable of puncturing the skin such as syringes, needles, lancets, broken glass with blood on it, scalpels, etc. Because these 'sharps' potentially have disease-carrying blood or other potentially infectious materials on them, they are capable of 'injecting' that blood or fluid into anyone who comes in contact with them. Examples of sharps include:

  • Needles, syringes, lancets, broken glass with blood on it
  • Suture needles, scalpel blades, butterflies (both traditional and safety
  • Vacutainer tubes (both plastic and glass)
  • Phlebotomy needles with vacutainer tube holder attached
  • Capillary tubes (both plastic and glass)
  • IV catheters
  • Dental anesthetic carpules with blood
  • Dental wires and endodontic files
  • Other sharp objects contaminated with blood such as box cutters and broken glass

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What other items besides sharps are considered regulated medical waste?

Home self-injectors only need to worry about proper disposal of their sharps.
For regulated businesses, such as healthcare faculties, in addition to sharps, regulated medical waste is defined by OSHA as:
Pathology and microbiological waste
Liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM*)
Items caked with dried blood or OPIM
Items that could release blood or OPIM

*OPIM: semen, vaginal secretions; fluids from around the spine, brain, joints, lungs, heart, and abdomen; saliva in a dental procedure; any body fluid with visible blood; any unidentifiable body fluid; and unfixed tissue.

Examples of non-sharps regulated medical waste include:
Tubing with blood in it
Blood-soaked gauze

Regulated medical waste does not include urine, feces, sputum, sweat, tears, or saliva or any items containing or once containing these fluids such as urine cups, incontinence pads, or diapers.

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Why can't needles and syringes be thrown into the trash?

There are more than 6 million people in the U.S. infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, or other contagious diseases which can be contracted from a stick with a used hypodermic needle.

Businesses: Businesses are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to deposit sharps into a sharps container that complies with OSHA regulations in order to protect employees. Once that container is full, it must be disposed of according to state and federal regulations.

Non–Businesses (Home Users): Over 3 billions needles are thrown into the trash each year by home users treating illnesses such as diabetes. Even if first placed into a secured container, these containers break open when the trash truck compacts them. Workers are stuck with the needles, and must go through months of testing for HIV and hepatitis because they don't know where the needles came from, or what diseases they may carry. For this reason, non–business generators of sharps should follow their state requirements, or the guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which state that no sharps should be thrown into the trash, even if they are placed in a plastic or metal container first. Mailback sharps disposal is one of the EPA alternatives included on their website.
In addition, states such as California, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and others have either passed laws or established in their regulations that disposal of sharps by home users is prohibited, regardless whether the needles are loose or in containers. To view your state's regulations, visit our Regulatory Links page.

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If someone is self-injecting for medical conditions that are not contagious (like diabetes or allergies), why is it important to dispose of the syringes, needles and lancets properly?

Community workers and the general public who come into contact with discarded syringes, needles or lancets must go through months of testing and anxiety if they receive a needlestick simply because it is impossible to know the source of improperly handled sharps.

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What goes into the Sharps Recovery System™ container?

If you are a home self-injector, you only need to worry about proper disposal of your sharps such as needles, syringes, and lancets in your Sharps Recovery System™ container.

For regulated businesses, such as healthcare facilities, sharps as well as non-sharps medical waste should be placed in one of the Sharps Recovery Systems. Examples of items generated by regulated businesses that can go into the Sharps Recovery System™ containers include:
Sharps such as needles, syringes, lancets, broken glass with blood on it
Tubing with blood in it
Blood–soaked gauze

Please note that no more than 50 cc (10 tsp) of any liquid can go into any one container. This allowance covers liquids such as residual fluids that may remain in syringes, dental carpules or tubing.

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What sizes are available in the Sharps Recovery System™?

Sharps Compliance has several different mailback systems ranging from 1-quart to 28-gallons. Sharps and non-sharps regulated medical waste can be placed into any of our containers up to 3 gallons in size. Our 5-gallon system can hold red-bag waste only. Per U.S. Postal Service regulations, sharps can only be placed into containers over 3-gallons if designated as Medical Professional. If you have existing sharps containers in need of disposal, or want to continue to use your own sharps containers, either the 18 or 28-gallon Medical Professional disposal by mail system would be the system for you. These containers can hold both sharps containers and red bag waste.

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How much can a mailback weigh?

No more than 25 pounds; or up to 35 pounds for the Medical Professional Packaging container. Each container has the allowable weight on the outside box – this is the weight that the container should not go over.

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How much liquid can be placed into a mailback container?

No more than 50ml (10 teaspoons) can be placed into any one container. If using the 18 or 28-gallon Medical Professional systems, each sharps container placed into the system can hold up to 50ml.

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How do I fill out the manifest tracking document?

Fill out the multi–part manifest tracking document according to the instructions. Keep the last page (the generator copy) for your records.
If you are a business in New Jersey (not a home self–injector), you need to complete the New Jersey state manifest and place it behind the Sharps manifest tracking form in the plastic pouch on your mailback box. These manifests can be obtained from the state of NJ. That website can be accessed on the Regulatory Links page.
Your manifest tracking document may have already been filled out for you by your home health provider and the back copy removed. Make sure the document is in the plastic pouch, place your return address on the top of the box, and hand it to your mail carrier.

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Can I put the manifest tracking document inside the mailback box?

No. The Postal Service must see the manifest in the clear pouch on the outside of the shipping box. Furthermore, the box is never opened once you seal it up, so the manifest would be destroyed if placed inside the box.

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What if I lose my manifest tracking document?

If your manifest is lost or damaged, contact Sharps Customer Support for a replacement.

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How is proof of destruction verified?

Proof of destruction is available electronically through the SharpsTracer web-based manifest tracking system. Contact Customer Support additional questions about SharpsTracer.

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How long must the manifest tracking document be maintained?

There is no time limit for home self-injectors. For regulated businesses, it depends upon the state. Most states that regulate manifest retention require small quantity generators to retain the manifest and/or proof of destruction for either two or three years. Pennsylvania requires five years. SharpsTracer maintains manifest tracking documents including proof of destruction for a minimum of five years. If a hard copy of the manifest is needed, it can be downloaded and printed.

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Is it really okay for the Mail Carrier to pickup and transport bio–hazardous medical waste?

Yes. But only if the mailback system you use is approved by the Postal Service. A U.S. Postal Service permit number is printed on the front of every Sharps Recovery System™ return shipping box. This number is your assurance that the container and box may be mailed. Sharps Compliance, Inc. and the U.S. Postal Service have partnered to provide this service since 1994 and can assure customers that all the Sharps Recovery Systems meet or exceed mailing requirements.

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Can I put the Sharps Recovery System™ sharps containers in my own packaging?

No. The Postal Service strictly regulates the mailing of regulated medical waste and sharps. If you have lost your shipping box, contact Sharps Customer Support for a replacement. Do not mail back your Sharps Recovery System™ container in a box not provided by Sharps.

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Can I put my old sharps containers into the Sharps Recovery System™ mailback box?

In order to safely transport sharps, mailback boxes are designed to contain only their own sharps containers. If you have non–mailable sharps containers or sharps containers from another company, contact Sharps Customer Support for the proper and compliant system.

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Can I mail my package to the Sharps address in Houston?

No, our corporate offices are located in Houston and our treatment facility is located in Carthage, Texas. If you lose your mailback box or manifest, please contact Customer Support so we can replace them.

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How do I switch from my current method of disposal to the Sharps Recovery System™? What do I do with existing non–mailable containers?

You can order our Medical Professional Packaging to mail in your smaller containers; or you will need to schedule a final pick up from your existing waste hauler for your existing sharps disposal containers.

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Are prescriptions needed to purchase the Sharps Recovery System™?

No. The Sharps Recovery System™ may be purchased without a prescription.

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Are there any additional or hidden costs after the Sharps Recovery System™ is purchased?

No. All sharps container packaging, sharps mail–back postage, sharps disposal costs and manifesting are included. There are no minimum or monthly fees, medical waste transportation fees, environmental fees or record management fees. You simply pay for the system you need when you purchase it; no other costs are incurred.

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How long can I store regulated medical waste and sharps before sending them out?

For home users there is no limit. For businesses, each state's specific regulations define storage limits. Most are very similar, but a few have special mandates. Storage requirements for the Sharps Recovery System™ are no different than storage requirements for any other methods of regulated medical waste collection and disposal. Refer to our Regulatory Links page and click on your state, or contact Customer Support for your specific state or industry requirements.

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I understand I have a cradle to grave liability for my medical waste. Where does my waste go?

Your waste is destroyed at Sharps' fully permitted waste treatment facility, which houses a U.S. Postal station used exclusively for processing the Sharps Recovery System™ packages. Copies of permits are available upon request from Sharps.

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Are there any other regulatory requirements to be aware of?

Each state has its own specific medical waste regulations for generators, self-injectors and businesses. Refer to our Regulatory Links page and click on your state, or contact Customer Support for your specific state or industry requirements

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About Sharps

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Sharps is a leading full-service provider of cost-effective management solutions for medical waste and unused dispensed medications generated outside the hospital and large healthcare facility setting.