Residential Sharps Collection Program

The Residential Sharps Collection Program is a funding initiative administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) through its Materials Management and Compliance Section (MMCS). The program operates under the Solid Waste Management Fund (SWMF), as authorized by 415 ILCS 5/22.15(i), and is aimed at improving public safety and environmental quality by facilitating the safe collection and disposal of household-generated sharps, such as needles and syringes. These materials are considered household waste under Illinois law, and their improper disposal poses both environmental and health risks. The objective of this program is to reimburse units of local government in Illinois that operate approved sharps collection stations. These stations must be open to all Illinois residents and are responsible for the safe collection, storage, and disposal of used sharps. Eligible expenditures include costs associated with advertising the collection sites, producing educational materials to promote safe disposal practices, acquiring collection containers for residents, and purchasing receptacles for secure storage at the station. Other reimbursable costs include mobilization fees for hiring permitted transporters of potentially infectious medical waste (PIMW), fees for the disposal of collected sharps, and certain indirect costs. Applicants must be units of local government that have successfully registered and pre-qualified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal. The program offers a maximum reimbursement of $35,000 per grant cycle. Funding cannot be combined with other sources in a way that results in overfunding a project, and expenses incurred outside the formal grant period are ineligible for reimbursement. Notably, the program does not support costs incurred prior to the signed grant agreement nor after the project period ends. To apply, applicants must provide detailed narratives describing the proposed project, including organizational background, project scope, service areas, implementation strategies, and a justification for the activities. They must also submit a timeline with specific milestones, a performance plan outlining deliverables, and a detailed itemized budget. Eligible projects are reviewed for completeness and then evaluated on a merit basis in alignment with GATA and 2 CFR 200 Uniform Requirements. All documents and expense requests must be submitted via the AmpliFund system. Successful applicants will receive approval notifications from AmpliFund and must sign a Grant Agreement before incurring reimbursable expenses. Payments are disbursed quarterly upon submission of performance and financial reports. The program does not offer renewals, and any appeals regarding funding decisions must be made in writing within 14 calendar days of the award announcement. The final report must include total sharps collected both quarterly and annually. All grant-related records must be retained for a minimum of three years after the final expenditure report submission, in compliance with 2 CFR 200.334 and related regulations. With funding cycles recurring annually, the Residential Sharps Collection Program plays an ongoing role in reducing improper sharps disposal across Illinois. In recent years, funding has increased, with $750,000 allocated in FY2024, $1 million in FY2025, and $600,000 projected for FY2026. The program has successfully funded numerous county and regional health departments across Illinois, exemplifying its widespread utility and impact.