§ 118225 Sharps Waste Treatment Methods

Health and Safety Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

Key Takeaways

•Needles and sharp medical stuff must be made safe before throwing away.
•You can make them safe by burning, using steam, or another approved method.
•After making them safe, they can be thrown away like regular trash if they’re not dangerous.
•If you treat them yourself, make sure no one can get to them after.

Example

A doctor’s office has used needles they need to throw away.

They must burn the needles, steam them, or use another approved way to make them safe. After that, they can throw them away like regular trash, but they have to make sure no one can touch them.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 118225 Sharps Waste Treatment Methods

(a) Sharps waste shall be rendered noninfectious prior to disposal by one of the following methods: (1) Incineration. (2) Steam sterilization. (3) Disinfection using an alternative treatment method approved by the department. (b) Sharps waste rendered noninfectious pursuant to this section may be disposed of as solid waste if the waste is not otherwise hazardous. (c) Onsite medical waste treatment facilities treating sharps waste pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a) shall ensure that, prior to disposal, the treated sharps waste is destroyed or that public access to the treated sharps waste is prevented. (Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

sharps waste noninfectious incineration steam sterilization alternative treatment method solid waste hazardous onsite medical waste treatment facilities

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 118225.

§ 118225 Sharps Waste Treatment Methods

Health and Safety Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 118225 Sharps Waste Treatment Methods

Key Takeaways

•Needles and sharp medical stuff must be made safe before throwing away.
•You can make them safe by burning, using steam, or another approved method.
•After making them safe, they can be thrown away like regular trash if they’re not dangerous.
•If you treat them yourself, make sure no one can get to them after.

Example

A doctor’s office has used needles they need to throw away.

They must burn the needles, steam them, or use another approved way to make them safe. After that, they can throw them away like regular trash, but they have to make sure no one can touch them.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 118225 Sharps Waste Treatment Methods

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

sharps waste noninfectious incineration steam sterilization alternative treatment method solid waste hazardous onsite medical waste treatment facilities

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 118225.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References