Broward County Health Department: To promote and protect the health and safety of all persons in Broward County through the delivery of quality public health services
Environmental Health
SHARPS Home Disposal FAQs
What is Biomedical Waste?
Biomedical Waste -
any liquid or solid waste that may present a threat of infection to humans.
Liquid Waste -
blood and any other body fluids from humans.
Solid Waste -
clothing, towels, rags, sheets, gloves, plastic bags, or any objects soiled with blood or other body fluids.

What do I need?

Before the start of cleanup, make sure to protect yourself.
You will need the following items:
Item

Use
Rubber Gloves to protect your hands
Mask or handkerchief to protect your nose and mouth
Kitchen tongs or pliers to pick up any sharp items
Cat litter, dry swimming pool chlorine (or paper towels, cloth towels, or rags) to absorb liquid waste
Tin can or plastic bottle with lid to contain any sharp items
Household bleach for wiping soiled area
Glasses or Goggles to protect your eyes
Large shirt or plastic garbage bag to cover your clothes
Plastic bags to contain soiled items
Broom and dustpan or household spatula to pick up the litter or dry chlorine after absorption
Heavy-duty tape for securing the lid
Measuring cup for mixing a bleach solution

How do I clean up a soiled area?
  1. Cover your clothes with an old shirt or plastic bag.
  2. Use glasses or goggles and mask or handkerchief if there is a chance of splashing blood or body fluids.
  3. Using tongs or pliers, pick up any sharp objects and place them in a hard plastic or metal container with a screw-on or tightly secured lid. Be sure to reinforce the lid with heavy-duty tape.  
    CAUTION:  Do NOT use clear plastic.  Do NOT use a container you plan to recycle.
  4. Apply cat litter directly onto any liquid waste until it becomes absorbed.
  5. Sweep the absorbed material into a dustpan or scoop it up with a household spatula and place it in a doubled, plastic garbage bag. Securely tie the bag.
    Note: If cat litter is not available, you can absorb the liquid waste with disposable or reusable towels or rags. Place the used disposable towels into a doubled, plastic garbage bag and securely tie the bag. Place reusable towels into a separate plastic bag for laundering.
  6.  Mix one-half cup of bleach with one gallon of water. Wipe the entire soiled area with this solution. If disposable items are used to wipe the area. place them in a doubled, plastic garbage bag and securely tie the bag. If reusable items are used, place them in a separate bag for laundering.

How do I discard soiled items?

  1. Be sure all disposable items are in plastic bags that are securely tied. Place the plastic bags and the metal or plastic containers in the center of your garbage can.
    Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  2. If you plan to discard large soiled objects such as carpets, mattresses, and furniture, use the same bleach mixture (one-half cup bleach to one gallon water) and pour over the soiled area.
    Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  3. Contact your local garbage collection office and ask for instructions for pick up of large items. If this service is not available in your area, ask if you may transport the item to the local landfill.
    Note: If neither of these options is available in your area, contact the environmental health section of your local health department and request a listing of registered biomedical waste transporters who provide this type of service. Fees may vary.

How do I wash solied reusable items?

  1. Place all soiled reusable items in your washer. Run one cycle using one-half cup of bleach for each gallon of water capacity for your washer.
  2. Run a second cycle using your regular laundry detergent.
    CAUTION:  Should you cut yourself during the clean-up process, call your health care provider as soon as you can.

What are the steps for safe SHARPS removal?

  1. All sharps should be disposed of in rigid puncture-resistant containers such as liquid detergent bottles, bleach bottles, or sharps containers.
  2. Perform your routine blood tests and injections and place the used sharps into the containers.
    CAUTION: Do NOT snap off the needle. Do NOT recap the needle.
  3. Containers should be three-quarters full.
  4. All containers should have a lid which must be tightly sealed before it goes into residential garbage. Masking tape can be used to help secure the lid.
  5. Place container in residential garbage or dispose of it at the county's landfill.
    Note: Check with your local waste collection service to make sure these disposal procedures are accepted in your county.