Sharps disposal

Use Council's free and safe disposal service for diabetic needles, lancets (finger prickers), pen needles and sharps, including those used for pet and livestock.

Sharps are accepted at our annual chemical clean out, and at Community Health sharps disposal bins at:

  • Batemans Bay Community Health Centre, 7 Pacific Street, Batemans Bay
  • Moruya Community Health Centre, 2 River Street, Moruya
  • Narooma Community Health Centre, 14-28 Graham Street, Narooma.

You can also contact your nearest pharmacy to ask if they accept sharps for disposal, or you can contact Community Health directly:

  • T: 02 4474 1561

If you use sharps for livestock, you can also contact your local vet or produce and rural supplier to ask if they accept sharps.

Safe disposal of sharps at home

To minimise health risks or environmental harm, sharps items should always be kept separate from other wastes.

If you handle sharps in the home, consider using a sharps container or other appropriate puncture-resistant container (not glass) and ensure that the lid is secure.

  • You can purchase special medical sharps containers from selected pharmacies.
  • Store the container out of reach of children.
  • When the container is full, dispose of it at one of the Community Health sharps disposal locations.

Never dispose of sharps:

  • in public litter bins
  • by flushing down toilets or drains
  • in household waste or recycling bins (plastic syringes are not recyclable)
  • by discarding into the environment.

Report discarded sharps waste

If you find a needle or syringe in a public place, contact the NSW Needle Clean Up Hotline to have the items safely removed:

Most importantly, do not attempt to pick up the needle or syringe.