Which of the following items should never be placed in a sharps container?

The correct choice is that pills should never be placed in a sharps container. A sharps container is specifically designed to safely dispose of sharp objects that can puncture or cut the skin, such as needles, surgical blades, and disposable scalpel blades. These items possess a risk of injury to healthcare workers and necessitate careful handling and disposal.

Pills, on the other hand, do not possess the characteristics of sharps; they are not hazardous in the same way and do not require the same type of containment. Placing pills in a sharps container can lead to unnecessary waste of resources, as they do not pose any risk of injury or contamination like sharp instruments do. Proper disposal methods for pills typically involve seeking out designated medication take-back programs or following specific guidelines for household disposal.