Reusable Sharps Container Pilot Project
Needles and Sharps are Placed into Sharps Containers and sent off-site for disposal.
Between 2011 and 2012 there was a 18% increase in the amount of biohazardous waste generated at UC Berkeley. Research laboratories use single-use sharps containers for needles and other biohazardous sharps waste. The use of reusable sharps containers can significantly decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills. Each container can be reused up to 600 times! To reduce UC Berkeley’s environmental footprint, the Office of Environment, Health & Safety will begin offering a reusable sharps container service in May 2013.
Data suggests that this service may actually increase disposal costs. UC Berkeley can help lower these costs in the future by investing in more sustainable services today.