Sharp Wastes

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Sharps waste refers to items that can puncture or cut skin and are contaminated with biological material. These materials pose serious health hazards due to the risk of injury and infection, and must be handled with strict care during use, storage, and disposal.

Characteristics of Sharps Waste:

  • Used needles and syringes from medical, laboratory, or research procedures.
  • Scalpel blades, broken glass, or capillary tubes contaminated with blood or biohazardous material.
  • Contaminated pipette tips, microscope slides, or other pointed instruments.
  • Any item capable of cutting, piercing, or puncturing that has been exposed to potentially infectious substances.

Sharp Waste Information

  • Needles and Syringes: Used in healthcare,
  • laboratories, and research activities.
  • Broken Glassware: Found in laboratories and other areas where glass equipment is used.
  • Scalpel Blades and Other Medical Instruments: Commonly used in medical and biological sciences.
  • Other Sharp Items: Any object with the potential to cause injury, including broken metal
    or plastic pieces

Environmental Health & Safety:

Dipak Janda (Dk) Email: Dipakjanda@sfsu.edu

Telephone: (415)-542-8046

Sharps waste must be removed:

  • Within 7 days if the container is full or reaches the fill line.
  • Immediately if the container is damaged, leaking, or poses a hazard.
  • Within 30 days of first use, even if not full, to comply with California Medical Waste Management Act.

Certified Disposal Vendors: SFSU partners with certified waste disposal vendors who specialize in handling sharp objects waste. These vendors ensure safe transportation and disposal in accordance with environmental and safety regulations.

Sharps waste is picked up weekly or as required, depending on the volume generated.

Treated: Sent to a licensed medical waste treatment facility where it is either

  • Autoclaved (steam sterilized) to neutralize biohazards, or
  • Incinerated if required by state or federal regulations.

Disposed of as Solid Waste:
After treatment, the sterilized or incinerated sharps are rendered non-infectious and are then Shredded or encapsulated, and Disposed of in an approved landfill following environmental and safety regulations.

Contact Information

For further information about the  Sharps Waste Management Program at SFSU or how you can get involved, please contact:

Environmental Compliance Specialist

Dipak Janda (Dk)