Safe Disposal of Sharps and Pharmaceuticals

Lakewood is working to help residents keep their “sharps” and expired medications out of normal trash, as required by state law.

“Sharps” are hypodermic needles, intravenous needles or lancets used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications -- often for insulin.

Please refer to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Sharps Waste Collection Program website for additional information and a complete listing of designated distribution and collection sites throughout the county.

Official Program Brochure(PDF, 287KB)

Waste Hotline: (888) Clean-LA

Sharps Collection Tips

The safest way to collect and dispose of sharps waste is to use only state-approved sharps containers, similar to the one pictured above. Check availability at the distribution sites or ask your pharmacist or doctor for one.

If you do not have a state-approved sharps container, you can use a heavy-duty clean bleach or detergent bottle to collect used sharps. Do not use plastic water bottles, as they will puncture.

All sharps disposal containers should be:

• Made of a heavy-duty plastic;
• Able to close with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out;
• Upright and stable during use;
• Leak resistant;
• Properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container;
• Filled only 3/4 full (not to the top) and sealed securely when ready for disposal; and
• Kept out of reach of children and pets.

When full, seal the top of the container with tape and be sure the container is labeled "SHARPS."

Take the container to an approved site (see below) for safe disposal.

Sharps Disposal

Sharps should be collected for disposal in a heavy-duty plastic household container, such as a liquid laundry detergent container. Unprotected medical “sharps” are not accepted. See guidelines above for a safe container.

You can dispose of safely contained sharps:

• By dropping your sealed container of syringes and other medical sharps in the white drop-off “mailbox” located near the front entrance to the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station.
• By bringing your sealed container to the EDCO facility during their 2nd and 4th Saturday collection events, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. See the flyer here.(PDF, 2MB)

Do not flush your sharps or medications down the toilet or drain.

Do not place your sharps in the trash, green waste, or recycling bin.

Disposing of expired prescription drugs

Unwanted or expired medications may not be flushed down the drain, because wastewater treatment plants are not able to remove pharmaceuticals from waste water.

Saving unused or expired medications can also pose a danger to small children who may find and swallow the products. Or they can get into the hands of experimenting teenagers.

As drop-off boxes have been removed from the Lakewood Sheriff's station, you can bring expired medications to the EDCO facility in Signal Hill during their regular 2nd and 4th Saturday collection events, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

For details, click here for the EDCO flyer.(PDF, 2MB)

Additionally, you may take your expired medications to a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Event, which are held in various locations in L.A. County. Click to view the County's calendar for HHW events.

Walgreens pharmacies also offer pharmaceutical disposal kiosks during regular pharmacy hours (24 hours a day at most kiosk locations).

FAQs