Needle & Syringe Disposal
Used needles and other sharps are dangerous if they are not disposed of safely –they can injure people and spread infections that cause serious health conditions.
It is important to package and dispose of sharps safely to avoid exposing yourself and others to harm.
Proper Disposal
Place all needles and other sharps in a sharps disposal container immediately after they have been used to reduce the risk of needle-sticks, cuts, or punctures from loose sharps.
For more information go to the DNR household waste website.
- Put the syringe, needle first, in sharps disposal container or a rigid, puncture-resistant container like a plastic laundry detergent bottle with a secure lid or cap.
- Clearly label the container with the words “biohazard,” “infectious waste,” or “sharps.” Do not put in the trash.
- When the container is full, seal it and dispose of it safely. Options for disposal include:
- Pharmacies in Dane County that offer sharps collection.
- Ask your doctor, clinic or local hospital if you can bring sharps to their location for disposal.
- Use a sharps mail-back program.
Report Found Needles
Reports of found needles/syringes help us:
- Determine if the needles found in public spaces are increasing or decreasing
- Provide data to the City of Madison and Dane County so that “hot spot” patterns can be identified
Submitting a report is not linked to needle clean-up. Please always follow proper disposal practices or call your local law enforcement.
Report Needles
PHMDC Needle Exchange Program
The Needle Exchange Program at PHMDC provides people who inject drugs a place to dispose of used syringes and receive new syringes to reduce the spread of infection.
Resources
- Be Smart With Sharps, US Food and Drug Administration