Coronavirus Vaccine Disposal for Healthcare Facilities
Your one-stop for comprehensive vaccine disposal guidance and tailored solutions for managing COVID-19 vaccination waste safely and compliantly.
We’re in This Together
Stericycle has mobilized at each stage of the COVID-19 pandemic to best serve our customers and their communities. We have been partnering with our network of stakeholders from state and federal governments as well as with vaccine manufacturers throughout the development of vaccination rollout plans. To assist in your vaccination preparation and administration efforts, we’re providing the most up-to-date guidance on how to manage regulated medical waste (RMW) generated from COVID-19 vaccinations.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Knowledge Center
Access the latest COVID-19 guidance, regulatory updates, our response, and valuable resources, such as our packaging guidelines and webinars.
Learn more by visiting our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Knowledge Center.
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Stericycle’s Vaccine Waste Disposal Guidance
The recommended guidance suggests the disposal of COVID-19 vaccine related wastes should follow the same processes used when administering other vaccines. Remember to consider state regulatory requirements as disposal requirements may vary.
Syringes
Used syringes must be captured in disposable or reusable sharps containers and disposed of as regulated medical waste (RMW).
Empty Vials
The Department of Defense has recommended that all vial waste be captured in sharps containers to mitigate potential diversion and illicit intent. Once placed in a sharps container, the container should be managed as RMW.
Other Medical Waste
Gloves, gauze, cotton balls, bandages, and the like should not be placed in disposable sharps containers. Those items can go into the regular trash, or if considered potentially infectious material, disposed in RMW containers.
Vaccine Packaging
This material can be disposed of as regulated medical waste. Please refer to your vaccine manufacturer's instructions for packaging waste such as trays and boxes.
Full or Partial Vials (also called Residual Doses)
Once placed in a sharps container, these items should be managed as regulated medical waste or as non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste.
Dry Ice
Stericycle does not offer services to safely dispose of dry ice. While dry ice is not medical waste, it should be handled and disposed of by following official guidance from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention.
Flexible Service Options to Meet Your Needs
Option 1:
- Self-service mail back model where you fill containers and ship them back for compliant disposal
- Our containers are available in a variety of sizes and were designed to accommodate an additional 20-25% more sharps waste as compared to other sharps containers of similar sizes and volumes
- The All-in-One Sharps Management mail back kit includes everything needed to properly collect and safely dispose of small quantities of sharps. With convenient auto-replenishment option, we make it easy to manage container inventory.
- Our reusable sharps mail back containers are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared to accept a variety of sharps. The mail back kits are Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant and USPS approved, containing everything required to send sharps waste for disposal.
To purchase a Sharps Disposal Mail Back System, visit our Online Store.
For more information, visit our Sharps Mail Back Solutions for Non-Acute Care.
Option 2:
Compliant Collection and Disposal of COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Waste
- Full-service model where a Stericycle driver collects, transports and disposes of the medical waste and replenishes container supply
- Unused containers and liners allow for compact storage and easy assembly when required
- Flexible scheduling and a nationwide network to serve you where and when you need it with a 98%1 on-time service rate.
- Access to our customer portal, MyStericycle.com, to not only manage your Stericycle account (i.e. pickups, invoicing etc.), but also to complete online Biohazardous Waste Training, Department of Transportation (DOT) Training as well as other compliance resources.
Already have a Stericycle service but need additional sharps container, visit our Online Store to order some for your facility.
Why Stericycle?
Your Single Nationwide Partners
We manage all healthcare regulated waste streams, and offer related compliance support such as training and educational materials. Our network of localized team members across the country maintain a 97% on-time pickup rate.1
Your Risk Reduction Experts
Our Regulatory Affairs team under Environmental Health & Safety keeps up to date with regulatory changes and engages with federal, state, and local agencies as needed to help keep our customers informed and compliant.
Your Sustainability Champion
In 2023, Stericycle recycled 906 million pounds of paper, incinerated 55 million pounds of pharmaceutical waste, and helped our customers divert 101 million pounds of plastic from landfills by using reusable sharps and pharmaceutical waste containers rather than single-use containers.1
1. Source: Stericycle data, 2023
