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Medical Waste

NYC and New York State laws specify strict requirements for the storage, treatment, transport, and disposal of medical waste.

Medical waste is generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of people or animals and includes:

  • Blood
  • Sharps (scalpel blades, syringes, lancets and needles)
  • Laboratory waste (cultures and microbiological materials)
  • Dialysis fluids
  • Human pathological, anatomical, and biological waste
  • Contaminated animal carcasses
  • Materials that may be or are contaminated with blood or other infectious waste (bandages, disposable sheets, medical gloves, tubing, and intravenous (IV) tubes/needles)

Residents and businesses may receive a fine for improper disposal of medical waste.

Residential Medical Waste Disposal

Sharps

Place syringes, needles, scalpels, lancets, and other sharp objects in a "sharps" container or other leak-proof, puncture-resistant container, such as a laundry detergent bottle.

Carefully seal the container and label "HOME SHARPS" and place in trash. DO NOT place in recycling or flush down a toilet.

Used sharps can also be taken to:

Contact the NY State Department of Health at 800-522-5006 if a hospital or nursing home refuses to accept your sharps.

Medication

Never flush medication down the drain or in the toilet.

Medication can be taken to:

You can also place medication in a container with undesirable material, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, seal the container, and place the container in the trash.

Radiation Therapy

Patients receiving radiation therapy carry radioactive material in their biological system. This radioactive material can be excreted into tissues, diapers, or sanitary napkins.

Do not dispose of these contaminated items in the trash or toilet.

  • Separate the contaminated items from other trash and place in a closed bin.
  • Keep the bin in a location away from people, so that the radiation can naturally dissipate prior to disposal.

Medical Equipment and Accessories

Mostly metal or rigid plastic: set out with recycling on the night before your recycling collection day.

Clean, uncontaminated soft plastic, and film plastic: set out with trash the night before your trash collection day.

Business Medical Waste Disposal

Businesses with medical waste must file reports to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and an annual solid waste removal plan with DSNY.

Medical waste disposal regulations apply to:

  • Hospitals
  • Health care facilities
  • Nursing homes
  • Diagnostic and treatment facilities
  • Clinical and research laboratories
  • Pharmacies
  • Funeral homes

Sharps

New York State law requires hospitals and nursing homes to help New Yorkers safely dispose of needles, syringes, lancets, and other sharp objects.

Pharmacies are not required to participate in sharps take-backs, but may choose to participate in the Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP).

Learn more about the NYS Safe Sharps Collection Program.

Medication

Medical offices cannot discard medication in the trash--they must follow guidelines for disposal of regulated medical waste.

Pharmacies are encouraged to accept medication from customers for safe disposal.

How To Participate in Medication Take-Back Program:

  • Partner with a vendor and provide customers with postage-paid collection envelopes for them to mail back medicines or collect medications on-site and send to vendor.
  • If you choose to collect medication in your store, place collection containers in a secure place where only qualified pharmacy employees can access them.
  • Inform customers about the dangers of flushing medicine down the toilet.
  • Make it clear that you cannot accept controlled substances, and be sure people know that illegal drugs must be turned in to the proper authorities.
  • Put up a sign telling people that you accept unwanted medications or provide postage.

Learn more about the dangers of drugs in New York's waters.

Radiation Therapy

Chemicals used for radiation therapy (for example, with radioiodine or iodine-131 commonly used for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer) can be excreted from the body into tissues, diapers, or sanitary napkins.

Do not dispose of these contaminated items in the trash or toilet.

  • Separate the contaminated items from other trash and place in a closed bin.
  • Keep the bin in a location away from people, so that the radiation can naturally dissipate prior to disposal.

Medical Equipment and Accessories

Separate items that are mostly metal and rigid plastic for recycling, otherwise place with trash. Set out according to your carter's specifications.