Needle Safety
The safe pick up and disposal of needles saves you and others from getting hurt accidentally.
Most people will not get sick from picking up or being stuck by a discarded needle, but a used needle may contain blood that carries bacteria and viruses that can cause serious infection or disease. Safe collection and disposal helps keep communities safe by preventing needle stick injuries, limiting the number of discarded needles in the community, and preventing the re-using and sharing of needles.
If you find a needle, syringe, or other drug paraphernalia in a public place, contact KFL&A Public Health by phone 613-548-5860 or email harmreduction@kflaph.ca. Leave a detailed message regarding the location of the needle and contact information in case we have questions. For after hours, weekends, holidays or rural areas contact your local Ontario Provincial Police Detachment.
If you find a needle, syringe, or other drug paraphernalia on your property, or business, it is the responsibility of the property owner, landlord or business owner to pick up and dispose of the needle.
Follow the steps below to safely pick up and dispose of the needle.
Picking up a needle safely
Put gloves on to protect yourself from fluid contamination (they won’t protect against punctures or cuts). Closed-toed shoes are recommended.
- Sharps should be packaged in a specialized sharps container. If you don't have a specialized sharps container, use a hard plastic container or metal can with a tight-fitting lid. The lid should be reinforced with tape, and the container should be marked "biohazard".
- Glass containers, cardboard containers or cardboard boxes should not be used for disposal of sharps.
- Bring your puncture resistant, sealable container to the site of the needle and place it on a flat surface. Do not hold the container while placing the needle in the container.
- Use tongs or tweezers to pick up the needle by the middle of the plastic tube with the sharp end facing down. If there are multiple needles, pick them up one at a time.
- Do not recap, clip, bend or break syringes or needles that are ready for disposal.
- Place the needle in the container, sharp end first, and close the container tightly.
- Dispose of tongs, tweezers and gloves. Wash your hands with soap or use a hand sanitizer.
Sharps containers are available for free at Street Health Centre at 115 Barrack Street in Kingston, local pharmacies, or for $15 at any KFL&A Public Health office.
Options for safe disposal
- Dispose of the container in an outdoor needle disposal bin.
- Bring the sealed container to Street Health Centre, 115 Barrack Street, Kingston.
- If the container was obtained at a pharmacy, return the sealed container to any pharmacy.
- If the container was obtained at KFL&A Public Health, return the sealed container to one of our offices.
Do not throw loose needles in the garbage, put needles in a recycling bin, flush needles down the toilet, or throw needles in bushes or parks.
If you need more information, call KFL&A Public Health at 613-548-5860 or email harmreduction@kflaph.ca.
Community needle stick injuries - what to do and what is the risk?
Getting poked by a needle can be concerning. However, it is important to remember that the risk of infection from an improperly discarded needle in the community is extremely low. In the event of a needle stick injury, the following steps should be taken:
- Allow the wound to bleed freely. Do not squeeze the wound. This may damage the tissues and increase risk of infection.
- Wash the wound with soap and water. Do not apply bleach or alcohol to the wound.
- Go to your local emergency department immediately for follow-up care. An assessment will be done to determine the need for medications and/or vaccinations to further reduce the risk of transmission (e.g., post-exposure prophylaxis). Baseline blood tests for Hepatitis B and C, and HIV will be done at this visit, with follow-up blood tests to be done over the next three months.