The City of Madison, in cooperation with Dane County and 25 Madison pharmacies operates a drop off collection program for used medical needles. Madison residents can now take their used needles, syringes, and lancets to participating pharmacies for proper disposal.
Proper Disposal Is The Law
State regulations require households to safely package sharps and bans sharps from disposal in a landfill unless they have been specially processed. To help Madison residents, many clinics and physicians will take back used needles and dispose of them properly. However, many people do not have access to a sharps collection program. To assist you with proper disposal, the Streets Division has established a drop off program for used medical needles.
Sharps Disposal Guidelines
The City of Madison sharps disposal program is simple to use and is free of charge. All you have to do is properly package your used needles and take them to a participating pharmacy for disposal. This program is for individuals only.
Packaging Requirements
All needles, syringes, and lancets (including veterinary needles used on animals) must be properly packaged.
About Proper Packages
Contact the pharmacy where you will take the sharps to learn what their requirements are. Be sure to speak to a pharmacist with knowledge of the sharps program.
A red plastic sharps container is likely universally accepted. Many places also accept a plastic laundry detergent bottle if properly labeled with "Biohazard" or "Sharps" stickers, but not all pharmacies will accept them this way. (Sharps stickers are available free of charge from participating pharmacies or by calling (608) 267-2626.)
Again, contact the pharmacy where you will be taking the sharps for disposal to learn what their specific packaging requirements are.
Madison Environmental Resources (MERI) also offers a mail back box program that you could utilize for a cost. For more inofrmation on the mail back program, contact MERI at the number listed below.
BUSINESS SHARPS DISPOSAL
Businesses with sharps to dispose of can contact Madison Environmental Resources at 608-257-7652. There are many other businesses that also take sharps, such as MedPro, or Stericycle, or Veolia.
OTHER SHARPS RESOURCES
You can also check with the Wisconsin DNR or Safe Needle Disposal for additional options.
