Sharps

Handling Instructions

Ouch! No one wants to get stuck with your old sharps. Keep all sharps and disposal containers out of reach of children. Do not attempt to bend or break any needle or syringe, and do not try to replace the cap on needles.

NEW! Free Mail-Back Containers Offered by MarBorg and Waste Management!

Residential customers of MarBorg Industries and Waste Management are now eligible to receive free, postage-paid mail-back containers for home-generated sharps.  To order a container, simply call your hauler.  Visit our Waste Hauler page for contact information.

What are sharps?

Home-generated sharps, or simply "sharps", are needles, syringes with needles, and disposable lancets like the type diabetics use to test their insulin levels.

What's the proper way to store my sharps?

Please collect your sharps in an approved container made of rigid, thick-walled plastic. The containers should be clearly marked with a biohazards label.

Free sharps containers are available from the County but only at the County Clinic locations listed below. Otherwise, containers can be purchased at local pharmacies and through medical supply companies. Examples are included in the listings below.

Where can I dispose of my sharps?

It is illegal to put sharps (even if properly contained) in the trash. Use a mail-back program or take your sharps to one of the locations listed below. You can also download our sharps brochure for more information.

Where to go

• Carpinteria Area (2)

  • County Health Clinic - Carpinteria — 931 Walnut Avenue
  • Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Carpinteria Clinic — 931 Walnut Avenue

• Santa Barbara Area (3)

  • Caldwell Pharmacy — 235 West Pueblo Street
  • Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Franklin Clinic — 1136 East Montecito Street
  • Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Santa Barbara Clinic — 315 Camino del Remedio, Room 117

• Lompoc Valley & VAFB (2)

  • County Health Clinic Laboratory - Lompoc — 301 North R Street
  • Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Lompoc Clinic — 301 North "R" Street

• Santa Maria Valley (4)

  • City of Santa Maria Household Hazardous Waste Facility — 2065 East Main Street
  • County Health Clinic Laboratory - Santa Maria — 2115 South Centerpointe Parkway
  • Marian Medical Center — 1400 East Church Street
  • Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Santa Maria Clinic — 2115 South Centerpointe Parkway

• Outside Santa Barbara County (8)

  • Earth911.com - Information Only — 14646 N. Kierland Blvd., Suite 100
  • EnviroMed Safety and Compliance
  • GRP & Associates, Inc. — 218 10th Avenue North
  • Medasend Biomedical, Incorporated — 12340 Seal Beach Boulevard, #239
  • Sharps Compliance, Inc. — SCI Mail Sharps Disposal System, 9220 Kirby Drive, Suite 500
  • Stericycle, Incorporated
  • Waste and Compliance Management, Inc. — 6054 Corte del Cedro
  • XMED Medical Waste Disposal, Inc — 2126 Metro Circle