Which container is used for sharps not contaminated with POMs?

• A. Yellow container with an orange lid
• B. Yellow container with a purple lid
• C. Yellow container with a blue lid
• D. Yellow bag with a black stripe

Answer: (A)

Waste is kept separate by color and lid so staff know at a glance how to handle each item. Sharps that have not come into contact with medicines are placed in the yellow sharps container with an orange lid. This specific combination signals that the sharps are hazardous only because of the risk of needlestick injury, not because they carry pharmaceutical residue. If sharps were contaminated with medicines, especially hazardous ones like cytotoxic drugs, they would go into a different container color (often purple-lidded) to indicate the need for stricter disposal. The other options correspond to different waste streams and do not represent the container used for sharps not contaminated with prescription medicines.