Sharps & Medication

Sharps are devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin, such as syringe needles. Improperly managed pharmaceutical drugs and sharps waste present significant public health, safety, and environmental problems at the end of their useful lives. They are not allowed to be disposed in your curbside collection and must be taken to certified collector.

Disposal of Sharps Waste & Medications

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works holds Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Events on Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm (unless specified otherwise) that accept sharps waste and medication. There are multiple locations throughout the Los Angeles region. Visit the Los Angeles Department of Public Works website to find an upcoming HHW Collection Event.

Sharps

You can also order sharps waste disposal containers from Republic Services. Residents may request up to 4 sharps containers per year, which include mail-back packaging and posting. Please contact Republic Services toll-free at 855-737-7871 or sharps@republicservices.com to inquire about sharps disposal containers.

Other state-approved sharps disposal sites include:

  • Los Angeles County Department of Public Works:
    900 S Fremont Avenue, Annex Building
    3rd Floor
    Alhambra, CA 91801
    Phone: 1-888-CleanLA
  • Accurate Home Health Care, Inc.
    1104 S Garfield Avenue
    Suite B
    Alhambra, CA 91801
    Phone: 626-576-5006

Medication

Do not flush medications down the toilet, in the trash or in your recycling or yard waste container. Medications can be disposed of properly at a California Product Stewardship Council (CSPC) "Don't Rush to Flush" drop-off bin. The closest bin in Alhambra is located at Albertson's Pharmacy at 2400 W Commonwealth Ave.

To dispose of your medication:

  1. Remove pills and other solid medication from their containers and consolidate in a clear plastic zipper bag. Keep liquid and cream medication tightly sealed in their original containers.
  2. Remove, mark out, or otherwise obscure personal information from solid and liquid/cream medication containers to protect your personal information. Recycle containers for solid medications in your household recycling.
  3. Bring the zipper bag and any liquids/cream to a "Don't Rush to Flush" location and place in the bin.

Important Information About Disposing Sharps Waste & Medication

  • Medication substances are bad for the environment, including ground, water and air and should be taken to a HHW Roundup Event.
  • Never dispose of medication down the drain. You can find disposal information on medication by visiting the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts website. Information is also available in Spanish.
  • Do not place sharps waste in used plastic milk cartons, bleach bottles, or similar containers. Syringes used on humans or pets include hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices for the delivery of medications. These can injure people, spread germs and disease such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.