A liquid medical waste receptacle includes an open top vessel having a bottom and an upstanding wall defining an upper rim. A lid is adapted to cover the open top vessel in sealing engagement with the upper rim. The lid includes a body portion defining a recess portion. The recess portion extends into the open top vessel. In some embodiments, the recess portion makes up a majority of the body portion. In some embodiments, the recess portion has a plurality of fingers. Select fingers have a proximal section, a distal section, and an intermediate section disposed between the proximal and distal sections, wherein the proximal section or the intermediate section includes a flexibility that is greater than the flexibility of at least a portion of the distal section.