To minimize risks from improper disposal of home-generated biomedical waste, e.g., needles, syringes with needles, diagnostic lancets, etc., many of Florida’s county health departments have implemented programs that provide accessible and affordable methods to dispose of this type of waste in a safe manner.
These programs provide strategically located sites where residents can drop off a container filled with needles and at many sites receive a new container at minimal or no cost.
Sharps Collection Programs
Needle collection programs can help you in disposing of needles, syringes with needles, and lancets that have been used by you or a family member in the treatment at home of an allergy, acute illness, or chronic disease, such as diabetes.
These programs are county-specific, so contact your county contact person for more information. If your county is not listed, contact us for assistance.
Disease Elimination Act
Governor Ron DeSantis enacted the Infectious Disease Elimination Act (IDEA) that allows county commissions to authorize sterile needle and syringe exchange programs for people who inject drugs. Disease prevention must be the goal of every exchange program.
Alachua
Lee Coates, DOH-Alachua
352-334-7934
Baker
See Nassau
Broward
Glen Johnson, DOH-Broward
954-412-7335
Bradford
See Alachua
Brevard
Margaret Hansotte
Cynthia Leckey
DOH-Brevard
321-633-2100
Bay
Kiana Yangson
Joseph Scully
DOH-Bay
850-481-4812
Calhoun
See Liberty
Charlotte
Peter Fiore, DOH-Charlotte
941-624-7200
Citrus
Jacyln Bell, DOH-Citrus
352-527-0068
Clay
Phyllis Barnett, DOH-Clay
904-529-3789
Collier
Lorraine Thompson, DOH-Collier
239-252-5514
Columbia
Pam Davis, Solid Waste Management
DeSoto
Mario Mendez, DOH-DeSoto
863-993-4601
Dixie
Elizabeth Powers, DOH-Dixie
352-498-1360
Duval
Jeimylee Camacho-Lugo, DOH-Duval
904-253-2570
Escambia
Emily Walker, DOH-Escambia
850-823-5838
Flagler
John Bey, DOH-Flagler
386-437-7358
Franklin
Brad Addison, DOH-Franklin
850-653-2113
Gadsden
Gadsden County Public Works
850-510-7784
Gilchrist
See Alachua
Glades
Brian Prowant, DOH-Glades
863-946-0707
Hendry
Brian Prowant, DOH-Hendry
863-302-6067
Hernando
Jacqueline Sampson, DOH-Hernando
352-540-6800
Highlands
Jason Wolfe, DOH-Highlands
863-402-6550
Hillsborough
John Zaykowski, DOH-Hillsborough
813-599-4401
Holmes
See Washington
Indian River
Julianne Price, DOH-Indian River
772-794-7441
Jackson
Jason Hamilton, DOH-Jackson
850-482-9227
Jefferson
Linda McDonald, DOH-Jefferson
850-782-2003
Lafayette
See Alachua
Levy
See Alachua
Liberty
Michael Devuyst, DOH-Liberty
850-643-2415
Madison
Linda McDonald, DOH-Madison
850-782-2003
Manatee
Brett Peterson, DOH-Manatee
941-242-6643
Marion
Alex Peacock, DOH-Marion
352-644-2711
Martin
Joyce DeMichael, DOH-Martin
772-221-4090
Miami-Dade
Inah Williams, DOH-Miami-Dade
305-623-3505
Monroe
Brandie Peretz, DOH-Monroe
305-293-7500
Nassau
Ronald Nessler, DOH-Nassau
904-557-9154
Okaloosa
Jessica Gottlieb, DOH-Okaloosa
850-301-2013
Okeechobee
Kathy Shorter, DOH-Okeechobee
863-462-5806
Orange
Yelitza Jimenez, DOH-Orange
407-723-5243
Osceola
Carlos Cruz
Jeff Smith
DOH-Osceola
407-742-8606
Palm Beach
Drovica Gosein, DOH-Palm Beach
561-837-5900
Pasco
Ken Maguire, DOH-Pasco
727-841-4425
Pinellas
Lisa Frazier, DOH-Pinellas
727-275-6498
Polk
Wadeana Beveridge, DOH-Polk
863-519-8330
Putnam
Cecil Slaughter, DOH-Putnam
386-326-7189
Santa Rosa
Jessica Gottlieb, DOH-Santa Rosa
850-981-7135
Sarasota
David Macci, DOH-Sarasota
941-861-3310
St. Johns
Ric Mathis, DOH-St. Johns
904-506-6081
St. Lucie
Laurie Owens, DOH-St. Lucie
772-873-4870
Seminole
Raymond Roe, DOH-Seminole
407-665-3613
Sumter
Eric Witzgall, DOH-Sumter
352-569-3131
Volusia
Steven Wille, DOH-Volusia
386-274-0544
Wakulla
Linda McDonald, DOH-Wakulla
850-782-2003
Walton
See Escambia
Washington
Amanda Baker, DOH-Washington
850-638-6240
Starting a Sharps Collection Program
To implement a sharps collection program in your facility, you will need:
- Complete and submit an application for Biomedical Waste Needle Collection Program Permit to the local county health department. There is no fee charged for this permit, as it is a service to the community.
- Written operating plan. If the facility currently has one for their biomedical waste generator’s permit, it can be amended to include the operating procedures for the collection site.
- Biomedical waste training for any personnel handling the biomedical waste.
- Log of the biomedical waste received (containers of sharps), including the date the waste was received, a description of what was received (the number of containers of sharps), and the name of the staff member completing the entry on the log.
- Sharps collection containers may be actual sharps containers or heavy duty detergent bottles, or similar.
- Filled sharps containers must be disposed in compliance with Chapter 64E-16, Florida Administrative Code.
Implementing such a program is fairly simple, especially if it is operated at an existing biomedical waste generating facility.
If you have any questions regarding the process, contact the Florida Department of Health at AskEh@FLhealth.gov, 850-245-4250, or through your local biomedical waste coordinator.
Disposal Services By Mail
Covidien/DHP Home Delivery
P. O. Box 1127
Albertville, AL 35950
888-744-7347
GRP & Associates
218 10th Ave. North
Clear Lake, IA 50428
800-207-0976
PureWay Compliance
20501 Katy Freeway, Suite 206
Katy, TX 77450
877-765-3030
Madison Environmental Resourcing
800 Uniek Drive
Waunakee, WI 53597
608-257-7652
Sharps Assure, LLC
845 Towbin Avenue, Suite 200
Lakewood, NJ 08701
732-806-8590
Sharps Medical Waste Services
9220 Kirby Dr.
Houston, TX 77054
713-432-0300
SteriCycle
2333 Waukegan Rd.
Bannockburn, IL 60015
800-355-8773
Waste Wise
6054 Corte Del Cedro
Carlsbad, CA 92011
866-436-9264
Other Medical Waste Disposal
Other Medical Waste Disposal
- Put soiled bandages, disposable sheets, medical gloves, and other contaminated non-sharp materials into a black or brown plastic bag.
- Securely tie or tape up the top of the bag.
- Place the bag in the center of your garbage when you throw it out.
If the options above are not feasible, as a last resort, the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection recommend individuals follow the guidelines below.
LAST RESORT: Sharps Disposal
Safe Sharps Disposal
If there are no other options for safe disposal, check with your local garbage service provider or county waste services to make sure these disposal procedures are allowed. If your county allows this last-resort option:
- Place needles, syringes with needles, lancets, and other sharp objects into a hard-plastic or metal container with a screw-on top or other tightly fitting lid (e.g., an empty liquid-detergent bottle or paint can).
- Before the container is full all the way to the top, put on the top or lid and tape it on with heavy-duty tape.
- Put the container in the center of your trash when you throw it out.
Do not put needles and other sharp objects in any container you plan to recycle and do not use clear-plastic or glass containers. Do not throw loose or unprotected needles into your garbage.