What is an example of a medication that must be disposed of in a yellow sharps container?

Chemotherapy agents must be disposed of in a yellow sharps container due to their classification as hazardous waste. These medications can pose significant health risks if not handled properly, as they can be toxic or have potent effects even in small quantities. Yellow sharps containers are specifically designed for the safe disposal of items that can puncture or cut, such as syringes and needles, which are often used with chemotherapy. This specialized disposal method helps prevent accidental exposure to these hazardous materials, protecting healthcare workers, waste handlers, and the environment.

In contrast, insulin syringes, while needing safe disposal in a sharps container, do not carry the same level of hazard as chemotherapy agents, making their disposal methods different. Oral antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors also do not require disposal in sharps containers since they do not involve needles or syringes, nor are they classified as hazardous waste under the same guidelines as chemotherapy medications.