Safe Sharps Disposal

“Sharps” is a term used for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut the skin. This includes needles, syringes, infusion sets, lancets (“fingersticks”) and auto-injectors. Sharps are used to manage medical conditions like allergies, diabetes, infertility, arthritis, cancer, and psoriasis. They are also used to manage medical conditions in pets.

Proper sharps disposal helps keep people, pets, and the environment safe. Sharps thrown directly into the trash, recycling bin or flushed down the toilet pose a public health risk to the community. Improperly disposing of sharps can cause injury and spread infections that may result in serious health conditions including Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Used sharps should be placed in designated medical sharps containers or heavy-duty, puncture resistant, leak proof containers with a screw-on lid like laundry detergent jugs, bleach bottles or any High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers (stamped with the #2 on the bottom).

Use black or dark-colored marker to write “SHARPS” on the container. When the container is ¾ full, seal the lid with heavy-duty tape.

Helpful Tips:

• DO NOT use milk containers (jugs) or water gallons/bottles. These are not puncture-proof.
• DO NOT overfill the container. This can increase pressure and cause the lid to pop off. Dispose of the container when it’s ¾ full.
• Keep sharps and sharps containers out of reach of children and pets.

1. Dispose of sharps containers at one of the city's sharps disposal kiosks.

Use the map below to find kiosks locations at:

• Fire Station 4 at 19th and Lawrence
• Governor's Park at 7th and Pennsylvania 
• Lincoln Park at 13th and Mariposa
• MacIntosh Park outside of the Webb Building
• Paco Sanchez Park at 12th Ave and Hazel Ct.

2. In Denver, labeled sharps containers can also be disposed of in household or public trash.

3. There are many commercially available drop-off and mail-in programs offered, including: 

• GRP & Associates 
• Medical Systems of Denver, Inc. (MSDI) 
• MedPro Disposal 
• Stericycle 
• Waste Management

Helpful Tips

• DO NOT dispose of loose sharps in household or public trash. These must be placed in a sharps container first.
• DO NOT place loose sharps or sharps containers in recycling bins.
• DO NOT flush sharps down the toilet

1. Can loose (single) syringes be placed directly into the kiosks?

Yes.

2. Can sharps and sharps containers be retrieved once placed into the kiosks?

No, the large chute ensures that sharps and sharps containers can be deposited without the ability to be retrieved.

3. Can I dispose of unused sharps?

Yes, both used and unused sharps can be disposed of in the kiosks.

4. Can I dispose of medications in the kiosks?

No. Please do not dispose of medication. Unused sharps with pre-filled medication are also not accepted. Visit the Medication Takeback Program for information on medication disposal options.

5. The kiosks are locked, who can I contact?

Kiosks are not usually locked, sometimes the bins become overfilled blocking the chute from opening. If you have trouble accessing a kiosk or have a complaint, please contact us through our community feedback form.

Have you accessed the city’s sharps disposal kiosks, and have feedback, concerns, or complaints? 

Fill out our Community Feedback Form here.