Home Sharps

(A) Effective July 1, 2012, home sharps, as well as unopened packages of hypodermic needles and lancets, shall not be disposed of in solid municipal waste, including household waste, and shall be collected and disposed of in accordance with 105 CMR 480.125(B). (B) In accordance with M.G.L. c. 94C, § 27A, federal, state and local agencies as well as businesses and non-profit organizations may establish sharps disposal programs which may include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) A program for safe, secure home sharps disposal; (2) The establishment of sharps collection centers located at medical facilities and pharmacies; (3) The establishment of sharps collection centers located in municipal facilities, including, but not limited to, fire stations, police stations, and public health offices; provided that sharps collection centers may be located at senior centers only for the purpose of disposing of medically necessary hypodermic needles; and (4) Medical waste mail-back programs approved by the United States Postal Service. (C) All mail-back programs shall comply with the United States Postal Service, New Standards for Mailing Sharps Waste and Other Regulated Medical Waste, 39 CFR Part 111.