Newton County, GA Public Health Rules: Syringe Disposal (2026)

Sec. 30-37 sits inside Chapter 30's body craft and tattoo regulations and applies to studios permitted under that article, not to the general public or to a harm-reduction siting program, since Newton County's code contains no such program. Sec. 30-37(a) bars bending, breaking or otherwise compromising a contaminated needle's structure. Sec. 30-37(b) requires sharps waste to go into a rigid, puncture-resistant container that is leak-proof on the sides and bottom with a self-closing lid, labeled with the international biohazard symbol and the word 'biohazard,' with removal handled under all applicable local, state and federal biohazardous-waste law.

Non-sharps biohazardous waste goes into a biohazard bag, while ordinary disposable waste goes into lined, tight-fitting-lid containers to prevent leakage (Sec. 30-37(c), (d)). Self-closing waste containers in each procedure room and restroom must be emptied at least once a day into a commercially approved dumpster, which a contractor must pick up and empty at least once a week (Sec. 30-37(f)). Sewage, including liquid waste, must go through a public sewage system or a code-compliant on-site system (Sec. 30-37(g)). The county board of health's director enforces the standard through studio inspections held at least twice a year under Sec. 30-31(d).