Promoting safe disposal of used needles and syringes is a key component of the National Sharps Policy. Community sharps disposal by public hospitals and authorised outlets of the NSW Needle and Syringe Program all public hospitals and facilities that are authorised outlets of the NSP are required to accept used sharps from members of the community.

At a NSP used needles and syringes and other medical sharps waste must be accepted at no charge, regardless of whether the person accessing the disposal service is a client of the NSP. Persons accessing a disposal service must not be required to provide information or documentation of a personal or medical nature.

Once community sharps are accepted or collected by  public hospitals and authorised outlets of the NSW NSP the needles, syringes and other sharps become defined as clinical wastes.