Medical Waste

Needles and syringes, often referred to as Sharps, should not be placed in the garbage, recycling containers, or down the toilet.

Sharps are defined as having the potential to puncture or lacerate.  These include syringes with needles, detached needles, and disposable lancets.

Because they are used for medical purposes, or may have come in contact with garbage or wastewater, sharps may carry infectious diseases and can pose a danger to solid waste workers or anyone who accidentally comes in contact with them.

The SWA does not accept sharps or any biomedical waste at any facility.

Home Users

The Palm Beach County Health Department has a Sharps Depository program specifically for home users.  For information and drop-off locations, call the Health Department's Biomedical Waste Section at 561-355-3023.

Current Palm Beach County Health Department Sharps Exchange Locations:

Jupiter Auxiliary Health Center

6405 Indiantown Road, Jupiter

561-746-6751

 

West Palm Beach Health Center

1150 45th Street, West Palm Beach

561-514-5301

 

C.L. Brumback Health Center

38754 State Road 80, Belle Glade

561-996-1600

 

Lantana/Lake Worth Health Center

1250 Southwinds Drive, Lantana

561-547-6800

 

Delray Beach Health Center

225 S. Congress Avenue, Delray Beach

561-274-3100

For more information on sharps disposal, please view the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Palm Beach County Health Department publications to the right.

Commercial

Disposal of commercially generated medical waste, such as from doctors, dentists, veterinarians offices, and other medical facilities and labs is regulated by Sate and Federal law.  Check the Yellow Pages or contact the Palm Beach County Health Department for a list of licensed haulers.