Disposal of sharps (e.g., needles and syringes) at state institutions such as the University of Illinois falls under medical waste regulations defined by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). Compliance requirements are outlined in the Illinois Campus Administrative Manual. U of I employees who use sharps for medical reasons are required to dispose of those sharps in accordance with those regulations and the campus sharps program. Employees should know about use and disposal guidelines for personal-use needles and syringes.
Participation in the program is easy, and sharps disposal containers are free.
Sharps disposal containers are only for items defined as sharps. Other waste such as Band-Aids or Kleenex should be disposed of in the regular trash.
The Illinois EPA provides the following recommendations for disposal from private households: