Covidien SharpSafety Chemotherapy Sharps Container — 8 Gallon Yellow

SKU: 8985  |  By Covidien / Medtronic

Chemotherapy Waste Only — Yellow Color Designation  |  Hinged Sealing Gasket Lid — Leak-Resistant  |  Absorbent Pad in Bottom  |  Temporary & Final Locking Closures  |  8 Gallon  |  Accepts Syringes, Ampules, Needles & Prep Materials  |  Rx Required  |  FSA/HSA Eligible

The Covidien SharpSafety Chemotherapy Sharps Container is a dedicated chemotherapy waste disposal unit for oncology infusion centers, hospital oncology departments, cancer treatment facilities, and any clinical setting that administers chemotherapy agents by injection or infusion. The yellow non-translucent container color is the standard industry and regulatory convention for chemotherapy waste — distinguishing this waste stream from the red biohazardous waste stream and preventing accidental commingling with non-chemo sharps. The hinged sealing gasket lid provides a leak-resistant closure that keeps liquid chemotherapy residue contained within the container even during transport. An absorbent pad in the container bottom captures excess liquid from chemotherapy vials, syringes, and ampules — a meaningful design feature in chemotherapy waste where residual liquid from IV preparations, partially used vials, and flushed syringes is a routine part of the waste stream. Temporary locking closure allows the container to be secured during the work session; final locking closure seals the container permanently for disposal. Accepts syringes, needles, ampules, vials, and chemotherapy prep materials. 17.75"H × 11"W × 15.5"L. 8 gallon capacity. Each or case of 10. Rx required. FSA/HSA eligible. By Covidien/Medtronic.

Specifications

Sharps Container Color Coding — Quick Reference

Facility waste management programs should confirm specific waste classification requirements with their regulated medical waste hauler and compliance officer.

Key Features

• Yellow non-translucent container — chemotherapy waste designation — the yellow color is the industry-standard visual identification for chemotherapy waste containers, required by many state and facility protocols to prevent chemotherapy waste from being mixed into standard red biohazardous waste streams; the yellow color identifies the container to clinical staff, waste handlers, and waste haulers as requiring the chemotherapy waste treatment pathway rather than the general biohazardous waste pathway
• Hinged sealing gasket lid — leak-resistant fluid containment — the lid closes with a compressible gasket that forms a fluid-tight seal when engaged; chemotherapy waste routinely contains liquid residue from partially filled syringes, flushed IV lines, and open ampules; the gasket lid prevents this liquid from leaking during container handling and transport, protecting staff and the environment from hazardous liquid exposure
• Absorbent pad in bottom — a liquid-absorbing pad in the container floor absorbs excess chemotherapy liquid that accumulates from deposited syringes, ampules, and vials; prevents pooling of liquid at the container base that could splash or leak during handling; the absorbent pad is a specific feature of chemotherapy waste containers that distinguishes them from standard dry-waste sharps containers
• Temporary and final locking closures — the temporary closure allows the container to be secured between use periods during the work session without permanently sealing it; the final closure locks the container permanently for transport to disposal without the ability to reopen; two-closure systems allow facilities to close the container during shift breaks or overnight without prematurely triggering the final disposal state
• Accommodates syringes, ampules, needles, and prep materials — the large 8-gallon capacity and wide opening accommodate the full range of chemotherapy waste including full syringes with attached needles, glass ampules, empty vials, IV needles, tubing with needle attachments, and used chemotherapy prep materials
• 8 gallon capacity — high-volume infusion center sizing — the 8-gallon size is appropriate for high-volume oncology infusion settings where multiple patients receive chemotherapy on the same day; case of 10 available for facility stocking
• FSA/HSA eligible | Rx required | By Covidien/Medtronic

Clinical FAQs

Why is a yellow container required for chemotherapy waste, and what happens if it's disposed of in a standard red sharps container?

The yellow color convention for chemotherapy waste containers reflects a waste management regulatory requirement rather than just a clinical convenience. Chemotherapy waste is classified as a hazardous or trace chemotherapy waste under EPA and RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) regulations and most state hazardous waste programs — it is a distinct waste category from standard regulated medical waste (biohazardous waste) and must be treated and disposed of through a different pathway. Standard red biohazardous waste is typically treated by autoclave (steam sterilization) and then disposed of in a lined landfill. Chemotherapy waste cannot be sterilized by autoclave and must be treated by high-temperature incineration at a permitted RCRA hazardous waste incinerator. If chemotherapy waste is placed in a standard red biohazardous sharps container and routed through the standard biohazardous waste stream, it may be processed by autoclave, which does not adequately treat chemotherapy agents — the drug residues remain hazardous and are not inactivated by steam. The yellow container visually identifies the waste stream to every person in the handling chain — clinical staff at the point of disposal, housekeeping, facility waste coordinators, and the waste hauler — so that each person routes the container to the correct chemotherapy waste treatment pathway. Commingling chemotherapy waste with general biohazardous waste is both a regulatory violation and a safety failure; many facilities have zero-tolerance policies for misclassified chemotherapy waste containers.

What types of chemotherapy waste can go in this container, and what cannot?

The Covidien SharpSafety Chemotherapy Container is designed for trace chemotherapy waste — items that have been in contact with chemotherapy agents but are not themselves bulk chemotherapy drug. This includes: used syringes that contained chemotherapy solutions (with or without attached needles), IV needles and sets used for chemotherapy administration, empty or near-empty chemotherapy vials and glass ampules, chemotherapy prep materials including gloves, gowns, and absorbent prep pads that have contacted chemo agents, and other sharps and non-sharps that have been contaminated with trace amounts of chemotherapy drugs. Items that should NOT go in a trace chemo container include: vials or bags with more than trace amounts of chemotherapy drug remaining — these may require disposal as bulk chemotherapy waste or RCRA hazardous waste; P-listed chemotherapy agents (such as cyclophosphamide, if classified as a listed hazardous waste by your facility) may require black-lid RCRA containers rather than yellow trace chemo containers; and any non-chemotherapy sharps, which should go in standard red containers. Specific waste classification protocols vary by facility and by state hazardous waste regulation — your facility's safety officer, pharmacy department, and regulated medical waste hauler are the authoritative sources for your specific waste classification and container assignment requirements. Call us at 1-866-218-0902 for guidance on ordering appropriate containers for your facility's chemotherapy waste program.

What is the difference between the SharpSafety chemotherapy container (yellow) and a standard sharps container (red) beyond the color?

The differences between the yellow SharpSafety chemotherapy container and standard red sharps containers are not merely cosmetic. First, the absorbent pad in the bottom of the chemotherapy container is specific to the chemotherapy waste stream — chemotherapy preparation and administration produces more liquid residue per procedure than a standard blood draw or injection, and the absorbent pad prevents this liquid from pooling and potentially leaking. Standard red sharps containers typically do not include an absorbent pad. Second, the sealing gasket lid on the chemotherapy container provides a tighter liquid-resistant seal than the rotor or snap lids on most standard red containers — necessary for a waste stream with significant liquid content. Third, the container material and construction must be compatible with the chemical properties of chemotherapy agents, which can be more aggressive toward certain plastics than blood and standard biological waste. Fourth, the disposal pathway is entirely different: once sealed, the yellow chemotherapy container enters the RCRA hazardous waste/trace chemotherapy waste treatment stream that leads to high-temperature incineration, while the red container goes to standard medical waste treatment. Placing chemotherapy waste in a standard red container is not a safe substitute — the container is not designed for chemotherapy liquid containment, and the waste will not be routed to the correct treatment pathway.

Questions about the SharpSafety Chemotherapy Container, case quantities, or your facility's chemotherapy waste compliance needs? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902  |  Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–3pm EST