When taking care of your health, keep in mind the health of our environment, too. Medical wastes, such as prescriptions medications and sharps - needles and syringes - require proper disposal. They should not be thrown into the garbage or recycling bin.
Palm Beach County residents have FREE opportunities to dispose of their unwanted or expired prescription medications or sharps at many locations countywide. Commercial businesses may have other state and local ordinances or requirements to follow.
Unwanted or expired prescription medications
According to the Palm Beach County Substance Awareness Coalition, approximately seven Floridians die every day from a prescription drug overdose. To combat this issue, the SWA has partnered with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and many local police departments on Operation Pill Drop, to keep prescription medicines away from our children and out of our water supply.
Palm Beach County residents can easily dispose of unwanted or expired medications by dropping them in their nearest Prescription Drug Task Force online.
Sharps
Sharps are defined as having the potential to puncture or lacerate, and include syringes with needles, detached needles, and disposable lancets. As sharps are used for medical purposes, they 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 biomedical waste at any Home Chemical and Recycling Center.
To find an appropriate sharps drop-off location in Palm Beach County, call Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County Sharps Disposal Biomedical Waste at 561-837-5980.
Businesses that generate biomedical waste are regulated by both the Florida Department of Health (DOH) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP has primary responsibility for biomedical waste incineration and final disposal. The DOH has primary authority and responsibility for facilities that generate, transport, store or treat biomedical waste through processes other than incineration.
Remember, pollution prevention starts at home. Visit www.SWA.org/HCRC or call 561-697-2700 or 866-SWA-INFO (toll-free) to learn more about the Solid Waste Authority’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
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