Since September 2008, California State law (Section 118286 of the California Health and Safety Code) maked it illegal to dispose of sharps waste in trash or recycling containers, and requires that all sharps waste be transported to a collection center in an approved sharps container. 
Sharps waste is defined as hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications derived from a household, including a multifamily residence or household.
In addition to prohibiting the disposal of sharps waste in the trash, it is required that home-generated sharps be placed in approved containers for transport and disposal. Therefore, home-generated sharps should not be disposed of in bleach bottles, soda containers, or detergent containers. Instead, users should store the sharps waste in red bio-hazardous containers for easy identification.
The City of Indio has a sharps disposal program helps residents store and dispose of medical waste properly. To obtain a sharps waste container, please visit the following participating pharmacies:
RITE AID CORPORATION
82-451 Highway 111, Indio
phone: 760.342.7076
RALPHS PHARMACY
49-908 Jefferson St., Indio
phone: 760.771.4524
CVS PHARMACY
82-270 Highway 111, Indio
phone: 760.342.2008
More locations coming to a pharmacy near you!
Call locations for store hours and availability of Sharps Disposal Kits.
