Needles, Syringes and Other Sharps
Do not put sharps in home garbage or recycling.
It is a health hazard and is against the law.
Sharps disposal options
- Check with your pharmacy. Many stores that sell sharps containers accept the full containers for disposal.
- Ask your health care provider if you can return used sharps to his/her office or clinic.
- Dispose of sharps at the Recycling and Disposal Stations for no charge. See instructions below.
- Public Health Center patients can dispose of sharps 24 hours a day in syringe drop boxes located outside public clinics. See Seattle/ King County Public Health Sharps Disposal Options for locations.
- People who use illegal drugs can drop off sharps at a Seattle/ King County Public Health Needle Exchange.
- Businesses that need to dispose of sharps should call the Public Health Seattle & King County at (206) 205-4394.
Recycling and Disposal Station instructions
- Put your sharps in a sealed, labeled, rigid plastic container. Manufactured sharps containers are available at many pharmacies and drugstores.
- There is a 1 gallon container limit per trip.
- Your container will not be returned to you.
- Ask the station attendant where to deposit your sharps container.
- Do not put loose sharps in the garbage or recycling! It is a health hazard and is against the law.
More Information
Call the Seattle - King County Health Department, (206) 263-8899.
Related links
Links to other sites
Sharps Disposal Options
King County guidelines for storage and containment of biomedical waste
