How Do I Dispose of Sharps/Syringes?

Nearly 1 million sharps enter Lee County's solid waste stream every year.
Make it your practice to dispose of them correctly.

Sharps ContainerWhat are Sharps?

 
Sharps are defined as syringes with attached needles, lancets or devices having the potential to puncture or lacerate.

They must be disposed of in special red box sharps containers as pictured on the left.

 

Improper disposal of sharps causes many problems, including:

  • Clogging sewer and lift stations
  • Ending up in recycling centers among cans and plastics
  • Puncturing solid waste containers, placing workers at risk from hepatitis, HIV and other potentially fatal diseases

What You Can Do

 

1. Get a Proper Sharps Container

Pick up your initial sharps containers at no charge at any local fire district or municipal fire station. (You may be asked to furnish proof that you require the use of syringes.) Sharps containers are also available for a small fee at most local pharmacies.


2. Use Your Sharp Properly

  1. Perform your routine blood test.
  2. Administer your normal injection. DO NOT CLIP the needle. DO NOT RECAP the needle.
  3. Safely deposit in the red box.
  4. Do not overfill the red box.
  5. When full or ready for an exchange, lock the lid into place to secure it from opening and return the sealed container to any participating fire station drop-off site during regular business hours to exchange for a new one.

  
3. Participate in the Free Used Sharps Collection Program

Sponsored by the Lee County Solid Waste Department in cooperation with the Florida Department of Health in Lee County and the listed collection sites.

LEARN MORE - 



 
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