Medical Waste Disposal

6401 York Road, Third Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21212-2130  
Email: hhs@baltimorecountymd.gov

Phone: 410-887-BCHD (2243)
TTY users call via Maryland Relay
The Department provides language assistance services free of charge to persons with limited English proficiency.

Disposing of Medical Waste in the Home

Used needles can be a health risk unless they are stored in a puncture resistant container before disposal. Bottles made of heavy plastic with screw-on caps such as detergent or fabric softener bottles are best because they are strong and have spouts that make it harder for syringes to spill out.

To avoid unnecessary needle sticks, place the following items into a closed plastic container for disposal:

• Lancets
• Needles
• Razor blades
• Syringes
• Any other sharp object that could cut someone

Fill these containers until they are no more than two thirds full. All bags, bottles and cans with medical waste should be closed securely and put out with regular trash. Do not recycle these items.