City of Pomona, CA
Home MenuSharps Disposal
The City of Pomona in conjunction with the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) is working to help develop a safe, convenient, and cost-effective infrastructure for the collection and proper disposal of home-generated sharps waste. Decreasing the number of sharps disposed in landfills will help prevent potential health risks to landfill and material recovery facility workers.
The Pomona Health Center as of 02/27/26 NO LONGER accepts used sharps, free of charge, from the general public. They no longer provide free containers that store sharps. Pomona Health Center is located at 750 South Park Avenue (one block south of Mission Boulevard).
The Law
Beginning on September 1, 2008, State law (Section 118286 of the California Health and Safety Code) makes it illegal to dispose of “sharps” waste in the trash or recycling containers, and requires that all sharps waste be transported to a collection center in an approved sharps container.
Home-Generated Sharps
The California Health and Safety Code defines "home-generated sharps waste" as hypodermic needles of all kinds, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin. Hypodermic needles are used to perform daily injections of insulin and other medications, which generates voluminous amounts of used sharps.
Sharps Waste Disposal
The following are some of the disposal options available to you for disposal of sharps waste:
- Pharmacies - Some drug store chains take back their customers' needles, although large quantities might not be accepted.
- Mail-Back Service - A list of sharps waste mail-back services authorized for use in California is available from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
- Pomona Health Center - AS OF 02/27/26 NO LONGER ACCEPTS SHARPS.
- Trash and Recycling - Please keep in mind that all trash is handled by people both at recycling facilities and at landfills. These people could be stuck by needles or other sharps that poke through their protective clothing, including heavy gloves and boots. This could result in serious injury, including infection by pathogens either from the needle user, or by pathogens that contaminate a needle after it is disposed.
Resources
- A Guide to Syringe/Sharps Disposal
- Los Angeles County DPW
- CalRecycle Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship
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