Sharps are segregated and disposed of on the basis of their medicinal contamination. The lid colour of the receptacle or whole receptacle is based on this contamination and how the waste should be treated and disposed of.

• Purple lid: sharps that are contaminated with cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines should be segregated and disposed of at a suitably authorised incinerator. Purple-lidded sharps receptacles should be used for this waste stream.
• Yellow lid: sharps that are contaminated with (that is, used in the administration of) noncytotoxic and non-cytostatic medicines should be segregated and disposed of at a suitably authorised incinerator. Yellow-liddedsharps receptacles should be used for this waste stream
• Orange lid: sharps that are not contaminated with medicines should be segregated and can either be sent for incineration or disinfected by alternative treatment at a suitably authorised facility. Orange-lidded sharpsreceptacles should be used for this waste stream.