The Sharps Management Program provides options for disposing of sharps (needles, syringes, and other hazardous waste) and educates the community about safe disposal.
Sharps (Needles and other Hazardous Waste)
Sharps, including needles, syringes, mouthpieces, pipes, and lancets, can pierce or cut the skin. For various reasons, sharps are sometimes found in the community.
It’s important to approach the issue of sharps found in the community with empathy and understanding, recognizing that individuals may face barriers to accessing proper disposal methods, such as stigma.
How this program helps
- Provides accessible community locations for sharps disposal
- Reduces needle‑stick injuries and improperly disposed debris
For more information, please view Grand Erie Public Health | Safe Needle Disposal and Retrieval
We’re working together to keep Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk safe. If you find a used needle, report it using:
Brantford- Brant online needle reporting tool
Haldimand-Norfolk Sharps Reporting Form
If you find a needle on your property, it is important that you take proper steps to dispose of it, in order to keep yourself and others safe. Never throw needles in the garbage or recycling, or flush them down the toilet.
If you’re planning a community clean up event where needles might be found, please see the Planning a Community Clean Up Event tab below. We offer support on the needs of your event, including education on how to safely pick up used needles discarded in the community.
How to safely pick up and dispose of a needle:
- Get a sharps container. If you don’t have one, use a strong plastic bottle with a lid (like a pop bottle or laundry detergent bottle). Place it on a flat surface.
- Pick up the needle by the plunger (the end opposite the sharp tip), with the point facing down and away from your body. Avoid holding it over your feet. You can use gloves or tongs if you’d like, but the risk is very low if handled carefully.
- Make sure your container is steady on the ground. Don’t hold it in your hand while putting the needle in.
- Drop the needle-end into the container. Put in any extra parts (like the cap or wrapper) and close the lid tightly.
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
- Bring the container to one of the 24-hr safe sharps disposal bin locations detailed in drop-downs below.
Remember: Never try to recap a needle, throw a needle in the garbage or recycling, or flush a needle down the toilet.
If you are accidentally poked with a needle:
- Stay calm; the risk of infection is very low
- Let the wound bleed freely for 10 seconds
- Wash the poke site with soap and water
- Apply a bandage to the poke site
- Go to the hospital
If you use needles, here’s how to safely throw them away:
- Put your used needles in a strong plastic container with a lid (like a pop bottle or laundry detergent bottle).
- You can also get a special sharps container for free at any pharmacy that’s part of the Ontario Sharps Collection Program (OSCP).
- When the container is full, seal it tightly and take it to:
- A 24-hour safe sharps disposal bin (locations detailed in drop-downs below, or
- A pharmacy that takes part in the OSCP.
Visit the Health Products Stewardship Association website and enter your postal code for an OSCP location near you.
- Grand Erie Public Health – 194 Terrace Hill St., Brantford
- SOAR Community Services – 225 Fairview Dr., 133 Elgin St., or 73 Murray St., Brantford
- St. Andrews Church – 95 Darling St., Brantford (Bin located at the rear of the building, in parking lot)
- Beside Grand River Community Health Centre – 349 Colborne St., Brantford
- Beside Brantford & District Civic Centre – 79 Market St., Brantford
- Brantford Public Library – 173 Colborne St., Brantford
- Shallow Creek Trail – Newport Street and East Avenue, Brantford
- Salvation Army Booth Centre – 187 Dalhousie St., Brantford
- Syl Apps Community Centre – 51 William Street, Paris
Norfolk
- 185 Robinson St. Simcoe, ON
- 12 Gilbertson Drive, Simcoe ON (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
- Simcoe Memorial Park, 273 Owen St., Simcoe. (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
- Simcoe Kinsmen Park, 281 Head St N, Simcoe. (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
- 50 Colborne Street South, Simcoe. (All sharps accepted)
- 83 Sydenham Street, Simcoe. (All sharps accepted)
- L.E. & N Trail – Just North of Queensway St., Simcoe. (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
- 183 Main St., Delhi (All sharps accepted)
- Waterford Heritage Trail, Ponds, Shadow Lake Trail Head – 77 Alice St.(Individual sharps, pocket sharps container)
- Port Dover Public Library Branch. (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
Haldimand
- 100 Haddington St., Caledonia ON (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
- 117 Forest Street E., Dunnville ON (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
- Lions Park 640 Lock Street West, Dunnville. (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
- 180 Queen Street (alley beside Dollarama), Dunnville. (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
- 1 Main St., Hagersville. (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
- 16 Ottawa St. S., Cayuga. (Individual sharps, pocket sharps containers)
Grand Erie Public Health offers support for the needs of your event, including education on how to safely pick up used needles discarded in the community.
If you plan to lead a community clean up event where needles might be found, contact one of the following Grand Erie Public Health office locations:
Brantford/Brant:
519-753-4937 ext. 460
Haldimand-Norfolk:
519-900-9600 ext. 1042
SubstanceUse@geph.ca
