Sharps Waste

Reusable Sharps Container Exchange Program

Laboratory personnel who generate sharps waste are required to utilize approved containers for the collection of sharps within the lab. When containers are full ¹, lab personnel in the Life Science Complex, as well as those in the Health Science Center, must bring the containers to a conveniently located central location at their earliest convenience.  ¹ Please utilize the "fill" line on the side of each Daniels sharps container to ensure they are not overfilled. In general, sharps containers should not be filled in excess of 75% container capacity.

Sharps waste generated in areas not specifically identified above shall continue to be managed according to current policies, procedures and guidelines.

Reusable sharps containers should no longer be placed outside of your laboratory door to await pickup, but rather should be maintained in an area inside of your lab until you're ready to bring them to the designated drop off location.

Prior to bringing your full sharps containers down to EH&S personnel, please be sure that the sharps container is fully closed, the side tabs are securely locked and the container is free from gross contamination.

For further instruction on how to properly close/lock your sharps container, please see the instructional material below:

• Sharpsmart Access Plus Container Instructions For Use
• Sharpsmart Access Plus Container Instructions For Use (Spanish)
• Sharpsmart Standard Container Instructions For Use
• Sharpsmart Standard Container Instructions For Use (Spanish)

Additional Resources

• Collection Calendar
• Frequently Asked Questions
• About the Container
• Sharps and Regulated Medical Waste Segregation Guide
• Sharpsmart Safety Poster
• Sharpsmart Safety Poster (Spanish)
• Sharpsmart Brochure
• Reusable vs Recycle
• Sharpsmart Video
• Regulated Medical Waste Poster

Disposable Sharps Container Program

Sharps waste generated in areas not specifically listed above shall utilize industry approved disposable sharps containers that meet the specific needs of their laboratory operations and processes.

These containers can be purchased through an approved vendor, such as Fisher Scientific (see below for Fisher Scientific disposable sharps container purchasing information) when EH&S supplies are exhausted or a type/size desired for your space is not available through EH&S. You are not limited to utilizing Fisher Scientific sharps containers as there are many similar containers that can be found through a number of online or catalog companies. To order through Fisher Scientific, please navigate to their website at   www.fishersci.com  and reference catalog number 14-826-126 (through the 14-826-139 series) in the search engine.

Disposable sharps containers may be brought to any of the regularly scheduled hazardous waste pickups identified on the  Waste Collection Calendar  for proper disposal through EH&S. Please ensure these containers are closed properly and taped shut prior to transporting them.

For more information on sharps container management and disposal options, please contact the program contact listed below.

Martin Dingman

Hazardous Waste Coordinator

Tel: (631) 632-9677

E-mail: Martin.Dingman@stonybrook.edu