After surgery, needles and disposable sharp objects should be disposed of in:

After surgery, needles and disposable sharp objects should be disposed of in:

• A. The trash can in the surgery room
• B. The garbage dumpster outside the building
• C. The sharps container
• D. The recycling bin

Answer: (C)

Needles and disposable sharp objects must go into a sharps container to prevent injuries and exposure to contaminants. A sharps container is specifically designed to be puncture-resistant, leak-proof, closable, and clearly labeled, which keeps sharp items from piercing through ordinary trash and reduces the risk of needlestick injuries to staff. Placing sharps in the trash, in a dumpster, or in a recycling bin creates serious safety and biohazard risks and does not meet proper waste disposal procedures. When the container is full, seal it per facility protocol and replace it with an appropriate container for ongoing disposal.

Needles and disposable sharp objects must go into a sharps container to prevent injuries and exposure to contaminants. A sharps container is specifically designed to be puncture-resistant, leak-proof, closable, and clearly labeled, which keeps sharp items from piercing through ordinary trash and reduces the risk of needlestick injuries to staff. Placing sharps in the trash, in a dumpster, or in a recycling bin creates serious safety and biohazard risks and does not meet proper waste disposal procedures. When the container is full, seal it per facility protocol and replace it with an appropriate container for ongoing disposal.