Fresno State offers low cost sharps disposal program to improve campus safety
FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State students have a new option to safely dispose of used medical needles, thanks to a low-cost sharps container program offered through the Student Health and Counseling Center.
The program allows students to buy a sharps container with a prepaid mail-back disposal service for $3 at the campus pharmacy. The initiative is designed to reduce the risk of injury and improve safety across campus.
Sharps include needles, syringes and lancets used for medical conditions like diabetes. When improperly discarded, they can injure custodial staff, students and anyone who may come into contact with waste.
Thousands of needlestick injuries happen each year, increasing the risk of exposure to serious infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fresno State’s pharmacist-in-charge, Talar Yemenjian, said the program gives students a simple and accessible way to safely manage medical waste.
“It helps protect the student, but also our custodial staff and the campus community,” Yemenjian said.
“It helps protect the student, but also our custodial staff and the campus community.”
– Talar Yemenjian
Each kit includes a sharps container, sealing materials, instructions and prepaid shipping. Once the container is full, students can seal the package and mail it for proper treatment and disposal.
Fresno State nursing student Emma Hadzi-Kimov said proper disposal is critical for preventing injuries.
“Needles can be very dangerous if they are not disposed of correctly,” Hadzi-Kimov said. “Having a safe way to get rid of them helps protect everyone.”
“Needles can be very dangerous if they are not disposed of correctly.” “Having a safe way to get rid of them helps protect everyone.”
– Emma Hadzi-Kimov
According to Yemenjian, programs like this are part of broader public health efforts to reduce accidental injuries and improve safety in shared environments.
Information about all health programs offered can be found at the Fresno State Student Health and Counseling Center website.
The health center shares information about the program on its Instagram page.
University officials say the program is intended to provide students with an affordable and responsible solution while promoting a safer campus environment.
Students can buy the sharps disposal kits at the Student Health and Counseling Center pharmacy with a valid student ID.