Sharps and medication disposal
Lakewood helps residents safely dispose of used sharps and expired medications so they do not go into regular trash, recycling or green waste carts.
What are sharps?
Sharps are hypodermic needles, intravenous needles or lancets used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications, such as insulin.
Sharps require special handling and cannot be placed in trash, recycling or green waste carts.
The safest way to collect and dispose of sharps waste is to use a state-approved sharps container.
If you do not have a state-approved sharps container, you may use a heavy-duty, clean bleach or detergent bottle with a tight-fitting lid to collect used sharps.
Do not use plastic water or soda bottles, as they can puncture easily.
How to get a sharps container
- Pick up a free mail-back sharps container at Lakewood City Hall during open hours. Containers are limited to one per person per visit, while supplies last.
- Request a free mail-back sharps container from LA County through the CleanLA sharps disposal webpage.
- Ask your pharmacy if it offers approved sharps containers or take-back programs for filled containers.
- Find additional sharps container distribution and collection sites by calling 888-CLEAN-LA.
Sharps container safety
Sharps disposal containers should be:
- Made of heavy-duty plastic
- Able to close with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid without sharps coming out
- Upright and stable during use
- Leak resistant
- Properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container
- Filled only three-quarters full and sealed securely when ready for disposal
- Kept out of reach of children and pets
When the container is about three-quarters full, seal the top with tape and make sure it is labeled “SHARPS.”
Where to dispose of sharps safely
When your sharps container is about three-quarters full, labeled and tightly sealed, take it to a designated collection site.
EDCO accepts sharps at its second and fourth Saturday collection events from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at:
EDCO transfer station
2755 California Avenue, Signal Hill
Contact EDCO before visiting to confirm accepted items, hours and fees. You can also visit the EDCO Recycling and Transfer webpage.
Do not flush sharps or medications down the toilet or drain.
Do not place sharps in trash, recycling or green waste carts.
Disposing of expired medications
Unwanted or expired medications should not be flushed down the drain. Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals from wastewater.
Keeping unused or expired medications at home can also create safety risks for children, teens and others.
Bring expired medications to the EDCO transfer station in Signal Hill during its second and fourth Saturday collection events from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
You may also take expired medications to a household hazardous waste event held in various locations throughout Los Angeles County. View CleanLA household hazardous waste collection events.
Some pharmacies also offer medication disposal kiosks during regular pharmacy hours. Contact your pharmacy to ask about available disposal options.