How to Recycle Sharps (Used Needles and Lancets)
Mariposa County Public Works Department in cooperation with Mariposa County Health Department offers residents a sharps collection program for sharps used in the home. Sharps, defined as a medical needle or lancet, cannot be disposed of in the landfill.
To safely manage your sharps, they must be stored in a sturdy container with a screw-on lid, such as a 2-liter soda bottle or plastic bleach bottle, that protects you and others from being stuck. When the container is about 2/3 full, close the top securely and seal it with duct tape. Label it with a yellow warning label available at the Mariposa County Recycling Center located at the Mariposa Landfill off Highway 49N approximately 2 miles from downtown Mariposa. Bring the sealed, labeled container to the Recycling Center at the Landfill.
Business Sharps
Business generated (veterinarian or medical clinics) sharps are NOT accepted at the Recycling Center.
In the future some pharmacies, doctors’ offices, mail-back programs, or hospitals may also accept used sharps. For more information about handling used sharps safely, go to the FDA Website