No matter how small, used sharps are hazardous. They can puncture skin or be contaminated with infectious bodily fluids, which can cause bloodborne infections such as HIV or hepatitis. If you are looking for a safe, reliable way to dispose of sharps, we are here to help. Specific Waste Industries (SWI) is committed to providing convenient and compliant medical sharps disposal services in Virginia. With several decades of experience, we guarantee proper handling of used sharps, eliminating risk in your home, business, and community. 
Why Proper Sharps Disposal Matters
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), medical sharps are any medical devices with sharp points or edges that can pierce or cut your skin. You may use medical sharps at home or in the workplace for a variety of purposes, including diabetes care, piercings, and medical research. Examples of sharps include syringes, needles, lancets, autoinjectors, broken medication vials, and even intact vials.
Since sharps remain dangerous after use, you cannot throw them in the garbage or flush them down the toilet. Doing so puts patients, staff, custodians, the public, and the environment at risk.
Our Sharps Disposal Services in Virginia
From large sharps generators like hospitals to smaller generators like tattoo parlors, we have a safe, efficient disposal solution for you. We offer a variety of schedules to provide pickup as often as you need it: one-time, daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, and annual.
If your location is remote or you use too few sharps to require frequent service, you can take advantage of our convenient mail-back option. We can walk you through the requirements of proper sharps disposal to ensure your safety and compliance with the law, whether you self-administer injections at home or manage a large business such as a research center.
Why Choose SWI for Sharps Disposal in Virginia?
SWI has been a trusted sharps disposal expert for over 45 years, bringing unmatched experience and exceptional customer service to everything we do.
Compliance With Regulations
Federal and state regulations do not always stay the same, but as industry-leading professionals, we stay up to date with the latest developments. We will also help train your staff to ensure your facility is fully compliant, because our number one priority is transporting and disposing of all waste properly.
Safety First
Our sharps removal process takes the guesswork out of safety. Whether you are a self-injector or a facility within an extensive hospital network, we will help you adhere to all relevant regulations to prevent injury, illness, and legal liability.
Convenient and Flexible Services
We tailor our services to your specific needs, including when they change. We also respect your workflow and visit your facility on pickup day with minimal interruption. These options are customizable to best suit your routine and budget.
Expertise and Reliability
With regional experience spanning over 45 years, we understand what medical facilities require when it comes to sharps disposal. Whether you require compliance training or infrequent pickups, our team of professionals is here to help.
Cost-Effective Solutions
Safe sharps disposal should not be inaccessible. Our services take into account your organization’s waste streams and stay within your budget, with no hidden or later fees.
Customer Support
When you partner with us, you will be guaranteed to receive responsive support. Our team members are fully trained in sharps removal and stay up to date on changing regulations, from our drivers to the workers in our licensed treatment facility.
Documentation and Reporting
From pickup to final disposal, every step of the sharps disposal process is documented in detail. This paperwork verifies your compliance and serves as a record of your responsible waste management practices.
How Our Sharps Disposal Process Works
Initial Consultation
We begin the process by discussing how much and how frequently your healthcare organization generates sharps waste. Depending on this information, we will create a disposal plan customized to your facility’s needs. At the end of this step, you will receive a detailed, transparent quote.
Sharps Collection and Disposal
If you opted for sharps pickups, we will arrive at your facility on the day determined by your selected pickup frequency. You can also mail your sharps to us. Once the sharps arrive at our licensed facility, we use high-temperature decontamination.
Facilities We Serve
Sharps use is common across many types of healthcare organizations, including the following.
Hospitals
Hospitals use syringes, drug vials, scalpels, and more as part of daily patient care. They typically generate a high volume of used sharps, and we help them manage this waste effectively while keeping patients, staff, and visitors safe.
Clinics
Our convenient sharps disposal service benefits clinics of all sizes and types, from walk-in clinics to specialized dialysis centers. We accommodate your schedule and arrive on time, keeping your operations flowing smoothly.
Research Centers
Sharps are routinely used in scientific experiments and lab testing, and must be disposed of properly. They include intact vials, since glass is breakable and therefore poses a risk of injury and disease transmission.
Tattoo and Piercing Parlors
These businesses operate by using sharps regularly, just as medical facilities do, and must also adhere to all relevant regulations. By partnering with us, you can choose the mail-back option if you are a small generator or arrange for sharps pickups when your business grows.
Nursing Homes
Everyday care in nursing homes involves needles for diabetes treatment and administering other medications. Our specialists arrive discreetly and respect the dignity of your patients, keeping them and your staff safe.
Contact SWI for Medical Sharps Disposal in Virginia
With over 45 years of experience in the waste management industry, SWI provides you with peace of mind when it comes to the safe disposal of medical waste and sharps. We are a licensed and insured company with deep knowledge of all regulations set by the EPA, the DOT, the DEQ, and OSHA. We guarantee safe handling and transportation with our sharps disposal service in Virginia.
Our additional services include hazardous waste disposal and document shredding in Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, sharps can never go in regular garbage or recycling bins, regardless of whether they are completely enclosed in any way, including in glass jars.
Follow these instructions to dispose of medical sharps properly:
- Use safety measures like gloves and other PPE to avoid accidents
- Do not dispose of any sharps in trash bins or toilets
- After using a needle, activate the safety mode on the syringe to prevent cuts
- Fill the sharps container to no more than three-quarters full
- Store the container in a secure area, making it inaccessible to others until the pickup date
For more information on compliance, do not hesitate to reach out to us with all your questions.
Yes, they pose a risk of injury and infection, and they must be disposed of in accordance with state and federal regulations.
The cost depends on the volume of sharps waste your organization generates and the required pickup frequency, but our disposal plans are always customized to suit your needs best.
