Residential Sharps Collection Program
Residential Sharps Collection Program supports Illinois local governments in collecting, storing, and disposing of household sharps and educating residents about proper disposal.
Funder: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Due Dates: May 25, 2026 (Pre-qualification) | March 1, 2027, 5:00 p.m. CST (Application) | June 30, 2027 (Collection ends) | July 30, 2027 (Final report)
Funding Amounts: Up to $35,000 per local government; $600,000 available for FY27; projects end June 30, 2027
Summary: Reimburses Illinois local governments for household sharps collection, storage, disposal, and public education.
Key Information: Collection stations must accept sharps from all Illinois residents, and business waste cannot be included.
Description
The Residential Sharps Collection Program supports units of local government operating collection stations for used sharps from private residents. Illinois EPA’s Materials Management and Compliance Section administers the program through the Illinois Solid Waste Management Fund, which supports household waste collection and disposal. The FY27 opportunity reimburses actual qualifying costs associated with operating these stations.
Supported activities include advertising collection locations, educating residents about proper sharps disposal, supplying collection containers and storage receptacles, and arranging pickup and disposal through appropriately permitted potentially infectious medical waste transporters. The program focuses exclusively on household sharps, rather than waste generated by businesses or a facility’s own operations. During its first two years, it funded services in 34 of Illinois’s 102 counties, with potential for further expansion.
