Sharps Disposal

If you use injectables for medical reasons and need access to a sharps disposal container, please contact Health Services at 970-351-1919. (containers offered free through Student Health Services)

Used needles and other sharps are dangerous to people and pets if not disposed of safely because they can injure people and spread infections that cause serious health conditions. The most common infections from sharps are:

• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• HIV

Safe sharps disposal is important whether you are at home, at work, at school, traveling, or in other public places such as hotels, parks, restaurants, and dining rooms.

Never place loose needles and other sharps (those that are not placed in a sharps disposal containers) in the household public trash cans or recycling bins, and never flush them down the toilet. This puts trash and sewage workers, janitors, housekeepers, dishwashers, household members, and children at risk of being harmed.

If you are a UNC student and need a sharps container, please call Health Services to find out how to obtain a free sharps container.

Students having full containers may return them to the Student Health Center located in Cassidy Hall, for proper disposal and may pick up a new container, free of charge.