YOUR HEALTHSafe Needle Handling
Found Needles & Syringes
If you find a needle, follow these steps to know who is responsible and how to safely get rid of it.
Teach children to tell a trusted adult if they find a needle so they can safely get rid of it.
Municipal Property:
- Call 519-360-1998 to speak with customer service.
Private Property:
- The property owner is responsible.
Apartment or Commercial Building:
- The property management is responsible.
How to Safely Dispose of a Found Needle
What you need:
- A strong, puncture-proof container (like an empty peanut butter jar or laundry detergent bottle)
- Disposable gloves (latex, vinyl, or garden gloves)
- Tongs
- Alcohol swab
What to Do if a Needle Pokes You:
- Stay calm - the risk of infection after a needle stick injury is low when treated properly.
- Let the wound bleed freely. Do not squeeze the wound.
- Wash the area with soap and water. Do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
- Apply a bandage.
- Go to the emergency room right away for treatment.
It is important that you get medical attention right away because treatment works best when it's started quickly.
Community Safe Sharp Disposal Bins
Community Safe Sharp Disposal bins are large metal containers that provide 24/7 access to safe needle or sharps disposal. The bins look like mailboxes but are yellow and have a biohazard sign on them.
You can drop off used sharps any time at a Community Safe Sharp Disposal Bin. Use the table below to find the location and address of a Safe Sharp Disposal Bin near you.
| Safe Sharp Disposal Bin Location | Address |
|---|---|
| CK Public Health | 435 Grand Avenue West, Chatham ON |
| CK Public Health Clinic Services | 177 King Street East, Chatham ON |
| Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission | 325 Grand Ave East Chatham ON |
| Tecumseh Park | Stanely Avenue, Chatham ON |
| Chatham-Kent Community Health Centre, Chatham Branch | 150 Richmond Street, Chatham ON |
| Chatham-Kent Community Health Centre, Wallaceburg Branch | 808 Dufferin Avenue, Wallaceburg ON |
| Chatham-Kent Public Library, Wallaceburg Branch | 209 James Street, Wallaceburg ON |
Household Needles
Many pharmacies offer free sharps containers and accept full sharps containers for disposal.
Needles can also be dropped off in rigid, puncture-proof containers on Hazardous Waste Day. For more information about Household Hazardous Waste Day, contact the Municipality of Chatham-Kent at (519) 360-1998 or click here.