A sharps container for receiving and storing medical sharps and waste materials which prevents hand access to within the container and has a wide access opening. The container (10) comprises a receptacle (11) having an opening which is closable toy a hinged lid (24) which is movable between opened and closed positions. A pivotal tray (16) is mounted at the opening wherein for the opened position of the lid (24) the tray (16) has a rest position at which it is accessible for medical sharps and waste materials to be placed thereon. The tray (16) is then pivotally moveable for disposal of the medical sharps and waste materials therefrom into the receptacle. The tray (16) is arranged such that as it pivots a front edge thereof moves towards the opened lid (24), and a rear edge (23) thereof moves closely adjacent a guard (35), wherein the rear edge (23) clears the guard (35) for disposal of medical sharps and waste materials into the receptacle from the tray (16) when the front edge of the tray is proximate the lid (24), thereby preventing hand access to within the receptacle (11) for all positions of the tray (16) about its pivotal axis. The tray (16) is biased to return to its rest position. The lid (24) and tray (16) are operatively associated such that as the lid is opened from a closed position, the tray (16) is moved from a storage position within the receptacle (11) to its rest position. The tray (16) is foldable to facilitate its storage within the receptacle (11) upon closing the lid (24).