​​​We all need to do our part to keep our communities clean and safe. This means getting rid of needles and needle waste properly.

If you find a needle, treat it like it was used and that it could hurt you.

Don’t put the cap back on the needle.

Don’t snap, take off, or bend the needle tip.

Don’t flush a needle down the toilet.

Don’t put loose needles in the garbage or recycling.

Needles found in the community can be picked up by following the steps below.

Steps to get rid of needles safely

1. Put on latex, rubber, or leather gloves to protect your hands.
2. Use tongs, pliers, or tweezers to carefully pick up the needle by the plastic end. Keep the sharp metal tip pointed away from you at all times.
3. Put the needle into a sharps container (a special container made for used needles) with the tip pointing down. If you don’t have a sharps container:
   • Put the needle in a container with a lid you can close tightly​.
     
   • Use a container that won’t break or get a hole easily, such as a thick plastic bottle or tin can.
   • Close the container tightly.
     
   • Label it SHARPS using a permanent marker.
     
4. If you want to use the tool again clean and disinfect it. If you don’t want to keep the tool, put it in the sharps container or another container that won’t break or get a hole in it.
5. Take off your gloves and throw them out. If you use leather gloves, clean and disinfect them.
   
6. Wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
7. Drop off the container at a needle disposal location (a place that gets rid of needles safely). You can also call your town or city office to find out where to drop it off or if someone can pick it up. Some city garbage programs accept sealed and labelled sharps containers.
   

Other tips

Only fill sharps containers to about ¾ full to reduce the risk of getting poked by needles inside. Never hold the sharps container in your hand when dropping a needle into it. Place it on the ground or a flat surface first.

If you find a needle and can’t get rid of it safely, please call your town or city office to report it. Some cities have programs that look for and pick up used needles.

Talk to children about what to do if they find a needle. Tell them never to touch the needle, because they are sharp and may carry germs. Tell them to let an adult know they found a needle so they can help get rid of it safely. For more information, see Talking to children about needles.

If you accidentally poke yourself with a needle​ you find, call Health Link at 811 to find out what to do next.