Sharps Disposal

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Pomona now Has a Free and Convenient Way to Dispose of Sharps Waste

Medicine Container The City of Pomona in conjunction with the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) is working to help develop a safe, convenient, and cost-effective infrastructure for the collection and proper disposal of home-generated sharps waste. Decreasing the number of sharps disposed in landfills will help prevent potential health risks to landfill and material recovery facility workers.

The Pomona Health Center accepts used sharps, free of charge, from the general public. In addition, the Center also provides free containers that are specially designed to safely store sharps. Once the container is full, it can be taken to the Pomona Health Center at 750 South Park Avenue (one block south of Mission Boulevard).

Free disposal is offered at the Center: Wednesday mornings (8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.).

The Law

Beginning on September 1, 2008, State law (Section 118286 of the California Health and Safety Code) makes it illegal to dispose of “sharps” waste in the trash or recycling containers, and requires that all sharps waste be transported to a collection center in an approved sharps container.

Home-Generated Sharps

The California Health and Safety Code defines "home-generated sharps waste" as hypodermic needles of all kinds, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin. Hypodermic needles are used to perform daily injections of insulin and other medications, which generates voluminous amounts of used sharps.

Sharps Waste Disposal

The following are some of the disposal options available to you for disposal of sharps waste:

Pharmacies - Some drug store chains take back their customers' needles, although large quantities might not be accepted.
Mail-Back Service - A list of sharps waste mail-back services authorized for use in California is available from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Pomona Health Center - 750 South Park Avenue, accepts used sharps from the general public (see above for additional information).
Trash and Recycling - Please keep in mind that all trash is handled by people both at recycling facilities and at landfills. These people could be stuck by needles or other sharps that poke through their protective clothing, including heavy gloves and boots. This could result in serious injury, including infection by pathogens either from the needle user, or by pathogens that contaminate a needle after it is disposed.

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