Needle Syringe Supplies and Disposal

Adults can dispose of a found needle using the equipment listed and following the accompanying steps.

Equipment

• Tongs and/or wear gloves - use puncture proof needle resistant gloves, to prevent potential needle stick injuries.
• Sturdy container with lid - such as an empty pop or household cleaner bottle.

Steps

1. Use tongs and/or put on gloves
2. Bring a puncture-proof, sealable container to the area the needle was found
3. Pick up the needle by the middle of the plastic tube with the sharp end facing down.
4. Place the needle in the container sharp end first and close the container tightly.
5. Remove gloves and wash your hands and equipment with soap and water.
6. Bring the container to a Needle Syringe Program Site or; Hamilton Community Recycling Centre (CRC) *Recycling Centres are closed Sunday

• Mountain Community Recycling Centre - Upper Ottawa St. and Kilbride Road
• Dundas Community Recycling Centre Olympic Drive north of King St. E
• Kenora Community Recycling Centre - 460 Kenora Ave.

Note: Hamilton Community Recycling Centres will only accept needles and syringes that are in plastic or metal containers with a lid such as an empty detergent bottle or metal coffee can. Label the outside of the container “syringes”. Needles and syringes in glass containers will not be accepted. Never flush or dispose of needles in curbside garbage or Blue Box containers.

For additional assistance contact the City at 905-546-2489

Update: The sharps disposable bin at Cathedral is currently unavailable due to ongoing construction at Gage Park. It will be returned upon construction completion.

A sharps or needle disposal bin is a durable container that is used to safely dispose of needles and other sharp medical instruments.

The City of Hamilton has placed these containers in select locations to help reduce the number of improperly discarded needles. Ensuring all people who use needles have access to a way of dispose of them safely is a priority for the City. 

Based on a targeted approach, sharps disposal bins are located at these City parks:

Similar to the yellow Community Sharps Disposal Bins, the City of Hamilton has placed five additional grey sharps disposal bins in select locations to help further reduce the number of improperly discarded needles.

Please note: These grey sharps disposal bins limit the size of items that can be disposed of. The smaller opening is meant for needles and small drug paraphernalia only.

These new grey sharps disposal bins can be found in these locations:

Planning an Outdoor Community Clean-Up Event?

If you are planning an outdoor community clean-up event and would like to have a sharps disposal container to safely dispose of discarded needles, please email [email protected]. Pre-ordered sharps disposal containers can be picked up at the David Braley Health Science Centre, 100 Main St. W. on the 4th floor Public Health Services reception. 

The following Needle Syringe Program Sites provide needles, safe injection supplies, naloxone and health information to encourage safer injecting practices.