Safe Disposal of Needles and Sharps

When looking to safely dispose of needles, bowl pipes, and stems, we ask that you use a Community Sharps Disposal Bin. The Bins help reduce accidental contact with used needles and other harm reduction supplies. Personal Sharps Disposal Bins can be carried with you or stored at a secure location to dispose of used needles or other materials, and are available for pick up at our Port Hope, Lindsay, or Haliburton offices and at Needle Syringe sites. Please note, these are not available at the Peterborough office at this time. You could also pick up a yellow needle disposal bin for free at your local pharmacy, or contact PARN for disposal bins, tongs and gloves.

Please remember:

• Needles or other harm reduction supplies do not belong in the garbage, recycling, toilet or portable toilet — always use a personal or community sharps disposal bin.
• If you see sharps on the ground, use the steps above to safely dispose of them or find support below.

If you see sharps on private property, contact the property owner to make them aware of the situation so they can respond. Business and rental property owners in need of sharps disposal can access free portable bins only through our Haliburton, Port Hope, and Lindsay offices. For Peterborough County and City residents, you may be able to get a small portable disposal bin at a local pharmacy or from Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN).
Follow the steps to safely pick up and dispose of sharps independently. They can also advocate to have community disposal bins installed in areas that serve their neighbourhood. Anyone who is unable to safely remove the item(s) themselves can contact PARN for support. Do not call 9-1-1 to pick up discarded sharps.