Sharps and Infectious Waste

Date: October 26, 2023

Chapter Env-Sw 904 of the New Hampshire Solid Waste Rules regulates certain types of infectious waste, including sharps (e.g., hypodermic needles and syringes) generated by businesses, laboratories and health care facilities.

Homeowners are not subject to these rules but there are best practices to follow to ensure that household-generated sharps are disposed of safely, including properly labeled containers. Print a label for your container before disposal. This helps protect you and solid waste facility operators who may come into contact with the waste.

Best practices:

Put used household sharps in a sturdy, thick-walled, plastic container such as an empty laundry detergent or bleach bottle.
To discard, wrap heavy duty tape around the screw-type lid and label the container with the words “SHARPS – DO NOT RECYCLE.”
Check that your local transfer station accepts sharps before bringing container to an attendant.

On the road?

Needle clippers provide an inexpensive, easy disposal method that fits in your pocket. Some can hold 1,500 needle tips!
Dispose of sharps in a designated container in a public restroom – do not flush sharps!

Fact Sheet SW-31: Disposal Tips for Household Generated Sharps

Have unwanted medicine? Learn how to safely dispose of unused or expired medicine.

a syringe being inserted into a blue needle clipping device red laundry detergent bottle with a label indicating the container is not for recycling

Questions?

Please contact the Solid Waste General Helpline via email at solidwasteinfo@des.nh.gov or by phone at (603) 271-2925.

Visit our Managing My Waste page to learn about other types of household waste.