Practical Sharps Management | The Ideal Settings for 5L and 7L Sharpsafe® Containers
Practical Sharps Management | The Ideal Settings for 5L and 7L Sharpsafe® Containers
Innovation and safety have been at the heart of our Sharpsafe® journey since the development of the world’s first purpose-designed sharps container in 1979. Our unwavering commitment to minimising risks to healthcare workers and their patients drives us to create industry-leading sharps disposal solutions.
Our Mission: Safety First
Needlestick injuries remain one of the most significant occupational hazards for healthcare professionals, with the World Health Organization reporting two million sharps-related injuries annually.1 Inadequate equipment is a key contributing factor. At Sharpsafe®, our purpose is clear: reduce the risk of needlestick injuries through reliable, effective solutions.
While our single-use containers are designed to break the chain of infection and minimise the risk of disease transmission, we also prioritise sustainability. Our Sharpsafe® containers were the first in the world to integrate recycled content, with container bases now made from up to 100% recycled materials.
We are proud to announce two new additions to our range: the all-new 5L container, a size frequently requested by customers, and the redesigned 7L container. These developments reflect our commitment to creating safer, greener, and more efficient products.
Safer by Design
Both containers feature Sharpsafe® renowned safety innovations, setting the benchmark for sharps disposal:
- In-mould Labels: Critical safety information is securely embedded into the containers, ensuring it cannot be removed or damaged. This provides a permanent audit trail and eliminates the risk of contamination from torn or bubbling labels.
- Clear Fill Lines and Bright Lid Colours: Simplify waste segregation and help prevent overfilling.
- ISO-Compliant "Safe Space": Located within the lid, this ensures dangerous contents remain at a safe distance from healthcare workers.
- Dual Protect Pro™ : This innovative hybrid safety shield prevents spills from the aperture and guides contents to fill horizontally, maximizing capacity and improving safety.
Both containers meet the ISO 23907-1:2019 and UN3291 standards, and are compatible with near-patient safe disposal (NPSD) accessories, making them versatile for various healthcare settings.
Bigger Capacities, Smaller Footprints
Through thoughtful design improvements, our containers deliver significantly increased capacity with minimal changes in size:
- 5L Container: Offers a 26% greater capacity than a comparable round container and a 67% improvement over the former 4L Sharpsafe® model.
- 7L Container: Provides an 18% increase in capacity compared to a round competitor container and 13% more than the previous 7L Sharpsafe® model.
- Larger Labels: Safety information is now easier to read, with a 64% bigger in-mould label.
A Greener Future
We remain dedicated to reducing environmental impact while delivering products that align with healthcare providers’ sustainability goals.
- Recycled Content: Bases are manufactured using 100% recycled materials.
- Reduced Virgin Plastics: Redesigned lids feature 16% less virgin plastic compared to previous models.
- Lower Carbon Footprints:
- The 5L container achieves a 37% reduction in KGCO2e per carton compared to the former 4L model.
- The 7L container sees a 63% reduction in KGCO2e per carton versus its predecessor.
The Ideal Settings for the New 5L and 7L Containers
Our new 5L container is perfect for environments with moderate sharps disposal needs, such as general practice clinics, community healthcare settings, or low-risk wards. The compact size ensures easy handling and efficient space utilisation.
The 7L container is best suited for higher-risk or high-turnover areas such as emergency departments, surgical units, or specialised clinics where larger volumes of sharps waste are generated. Its increased capacity helps reduce the frequency of container replacement, improving workflow efficiency.
Our new containers come with a range of coloured lids to make compliance with waste segregation guidelines, like the HTM 07-01 in England and Wales easy to comply with.
Yellow Lids: Medicinally Contaminated Sharps
Yellow-lidded sharps containers are specifically designed for the disposal of sharps contaminated with medicinal residues. This includes needles, syringes, and other sharps used for administering drugs but excludes cytotoxic or cytostatic waste.
Best Settings for Use:
Accident & Emergency Departments (A&E):
In the fast-paced environment of A&E, where a wide variety of injectable medicines are administered, yellow-lidded containers provide an essential solution for safe and effective disposal. For example, during emergency procedures such as administering intravenous antibiotics or pain relief injections, these containers ensure that contaminated sharps are quickly and securely disposed of, minimising the risk of needlestick injuries.
Vaccination Clinics:
Yellow-lidded containers are ideal for settings where vaccines are administered, such as COVID-19 or flu vaccination centres. Their portability and medium capacity make the 5L container perfect for mobile vaccination units, while the 7L container is better suited for larger-scale clinics. For example, during seasonal flu campaigns in GP surgeries, yellow-lidded 7L containers can help manage the higher volume of sharps waste.
General Practice (GP) Surgeries:
In GP surgeries, yellow-lidded containers are indispensable for safely disposing of sharps used in minor medical procedures and injectable treatments, such as steroid injections or hormone therapies. The 5L container’s compact size is particularly advantageous in treatment rooms where space is limited.
Orange Lids: Known Infectious Sharps (Not Contaminated with Medicinal Products)
Orange-lidded sharps containers are specifically designed for the disposal of sharps that are known to be infectious but do not contain any medicinal residues. This makes them the ideal choice for healthcare settings where blood or bodily fluid contamination is a concern, but medicinal contamination is not present.
Best Settings for Use:
Phlebotomy Clinics:
Orange-lidded containers are essential in phlebotomy clinics, where blood samples are collected for diagnostic testing. For example, after venepuncture procedures, needles and lancets used for drawing blood can be safely disposed of in an orange-lidded container. The 5L size is particularly well-suited to individual phlebotomy stations, ensuring easy access without taking up too much space.
Podiatry Clinics:
In podiatry, sharps like scalpels, needles, or blades used during minor procedures (e.g., ingrown toenail removal or debridement) may be contaminated with blood but not medicinal products. Orange-lidded containers are an excellent solution for these settings, where the emphasis is on safe and effective disposal of infectious sharps. The 7L container provides a practical option for clinics with higher patient turnover or where multiple treatment areas need sharps disposal.
Purple Lids: Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Contaminated Sharps
Purple-lidded sharps containers are specifically designed for the disposal of sharps contaminated with cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines. These substances are commonly used in treatments that involve antineoplastic agents or hormone-based therapies, making purple-lidded containers essential in specific healthcare and cosmetic settings.
Best Settings for Use:
Family Planning Clinics:
In family planning clinics, cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines may be used in hormone-based therapies, such as contraceptive injections. Purple-lidded containers are ideal for the safe disposal of needles and syringes used during these treatments. The 5L size is especially suitable for smaller clinics with lower volumes of sharps waste.
Cancer Treatment Centres:
Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments frequently involve cytotoxic agents, making these containers indispensable in oncology departments. The 7L size is perfect for areas with higher patient throughput, such as chemotherapy infusion wards, where large volumes of cytotoxic sharps need to be managed securely.
Beauty and Aesthetic Clinics:
The rise of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as Botox and dermal filler injections, has increased the demand for safe disposal of cytotoxic-contaminated sharps. Purple-lidded containers ensure compliance with health and safety regulations in the beauty sector. For example, the 5L container is an excellent choice for mobile practitioners or clinics offering aesthetic treatments in compact spaces.
Blue Lids: Solid Pharma Waste (Non-Sharp)
Blue-lidded containers are specifically designed for the disposal of solid pharmaceutical waste that does not include sharps. These containers are vital in settings where the safe and secure disposal of unused or expired medication is critical, particularly in areas involving vulnerable patients such as children or individuals with cognitive impairments.
Best Settings for Use:
Pharmacies:
In community or hospital pharmacies, blue-lidded containers provide a compliant solution for the disposal of returned or expired medications. For example, when patients bring back unused tablets or capsules for safe disposal, these containers help ensure the waste is securely contained and segregated. The 5L container is ideal for pharmacy counters with limited space, while the 7L size accommodates larger volumes in busier pharmacy settings.
Dementia Wards:
On dementia wards, where patients may be at higher risk of accidental ingestion or misuse of medications, blue-lidded containers play a crucial role in maintaining a safe environment. Staff can quickly and securely dispose of solid pharma waste, ensuring medications are inaccessible to patients while promoting proper waste segregation.
Children’s Wards:
In paediatric wards, where safeguarding is paramount, blue-lidded containers offer a secure solution for disposing of medications that may otherwise pose a risk to young patients. The 7L size provides a higher capacity option for busy wards with significant pharmaceutical waste volumes, while the 5L container is ideal for smaller treatment areas.
Safer, Greener Sharps Management with Sharpsafe®
At Sharpsafe®, we understand that effective waste management is about more than compliance—it’s about protecting healthcare professionals, patients, and the environment. Our newly introduced 5L and redesigned 7L containers reflect our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of diverse healthcare settings.
From A&E departments and vaccination clinics to pharmacies and specialised wards, the range of lid colours ensures that waste is correctly segregated and disposed of safely, reducing the risk of needlestick injuries and maintaining a clean and compliant environment. Whether it’s medicinally contaminated sharps, infectious sharps, cytotoxic waste, or solid pharmaceutical waste, there is a Sharpsafe® solution for every scenario.
Beyond safety, we’re leading the charge in sustainable practices with containers crafted from up to 100% recycled materials and designed with reduced carbon footprints. By choosing Sharpsafe®, healthcare providers can confidently manage sharps and pharmaceutical waste while supporting their sustainability goals.
Together, we can create safer workplaces, protect public health, and safeguard the environment. Explore the new 5L and 7L Sharpsafe® containers today and see how they can enhance sharps disposal practices in your healthcare facility.
Ready to upgrade your sharps disposal solutions? Contact us to learn more or request a sample of our latest innovations.
References:
1. Moran-González JD, Padilla-Orozco M, Guzman-Lopez A, Ochoa-Bayona HC, Camacho-Ortiz A. Frequency of needle stick injuries among healthcare providers during large-scale SARS-CoV-2 vaccination brigades. Front Public Health. 2023 Feb 14;11:1084812. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1084812. PMID: 36866097; PMCID: PMC9971916.
