As of September 1, 2008, it is illegal to place any Sharps materials in the trash can.  Sharps consist of needles, lancets, syringes and other Sharps materials (over the counter and prescription medications ARE NOT Sharps). Sharps DO NOT belong in the recycling container either.  So what should you do with your Sharps waste?  There are three options to dispose of Sharps waste which include:

1. Mail-Back Sharps Program (Unlimited kits annually): Waste Management hosts a mail-back Sharps Disposal program for all Manhattan Beach residents.  This program applies to all needles, syringes, lancets and other Sharps materials. 
   
   WHAT TO DO: Residents simply contact Waste Management at (310) 830-7100, request a "Mail-Back Sharps Kit" and one will be delivered to your home.  The resident will receive a Sharps by Mail package which consists of a Sharps container, mail-back box and instructions.  Once the Sharps container is full, place it in the mail-back box and in the US Mail (it became legal to mail Sharps in 1994).  Waste Management estimates that Sharps users fill approximately three containers per year; however, residents are not limited to this number.  If you have questions regarding this program, contact Waste Management at (310) 830-7100.
   
   
2. S.A.F.E. Collection Center Drop Off (FREE): The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation manages a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Center that is open and FREE to every LA County resident.  The Collection Center is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  Sharps containers are accepted at this site along with HHW, E-waste and U-waste. 
   
   WHAT TO DO: Bring your full Sharps container to the S.A.F.E. Collection Center at the Hyperion Treatment Plant on Saturdays or Sundays between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.  The address is 7660 West Imperial Highway, GATE B, Playa Del Rey (Directions from Manhattan Beach: Travel north on Highland Avenue, which will become Vista Del Mar after you pass 45th Street.  Continue on Vista Del Mar, make a right on Imperial Highway, and then a right into GATE B at the S.A.F.E. Collection Center.)  Have your California ID or Driver's License ready.  For more information and locations of other S.A.F.E. Collection Centers call 1 (800) 98-TOXIC (1-800-988-6942) or visit City of LA Bureau of Sanitation.
   
   
3. Los Angeles County Round-Ups (FREE): The County of Los Angeles organizes dozens of HHW Round-Up events throughout the year.  Residents of LA County may bring all Sharps and other HHW to the Round-Ups for FREE.
   
   WHAT TO DO: Check out the LA County Round-Ups schedule for all dates and locations, then bring the filled Sharps containers to the Round-Up between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.  For more information on the LA County HHW Round Ups call 1 (888) CLEAN-LA (1-888-253-2652).
   
   Physically Disabled Program: If you live within a 5 mile radius of a scheduled LA County Round-Up and are not able to transport your HHW materials due to physical impairment, please contact Armine Kesablyan at (626) 458-3548 to schedule an HHW pick up from your Manhattan Beach home on the day of the Round-Up for FREE.

To learn more about Sharps Disposal visit LA County Sharps.