GatorGuard Sharps Containers

Safe sharps disposal comes down to two things: keeping needles out of reach and knowing exactly when a container is full. The GatorGuard line from Cardinal Health is built around both. These containers pair clear or translucent bodies with fill-line visibility, so staff can gauge capacity at a glance, and locking or counterbalanced lids that meet the closure requirements infection-control protocols demand.

Placement drives the choice here. For a patient or exam room where a needle needs to go straight into a wall-adjacent unit, the GatorGuard In-Room 2-Gallon Sharps Container (31323333) stands freely with a locking lid and a compact 8-3/4 x 12-1/4 x 12-1/4 inch footprint. Where clinicians dispose one-handed against a counter or cart, the 1.25-Gallon Horizontal Entry containers (31353603) use a counterbalanced door lid — a translucent red base with a clear lid — that opens for entry and settles closed on its own. For higher-volume areas like procedure rooms and med-surg floors, the larger 20-1/2 x 14 x 16 inch horizontal-entry model (31314886) handles heavier sharps traffic without frequent swaps.

A few questions come up repeatedly. Which size do I need? Match gallon capacity to how many sharps the space generates and how often you can service the container — smaller units suit exam rooms, larger units suit high-throughput clinical areas. Horizontal or free-standing? Horizontal entry works best for counter- or cart-mounted use and one-handed disposal; free-standing units serve floor placement in patient rooms. All GatorGuard containers are non-sterile, made of durable puncture-resistant plastic, and designed to close securely for compliant disposal.

Explore related options in our Sharps Containers collection, or browse the broader Waste Management category for facility-wide disposal needs.