Many Boston residents use syringes to manage a variety of health care conditions at home such as diabetes, allergies, multiple sclerosis, and others. The safe disposal of needles, syringes, and lancets (sharps) is necessary to protect residents, sanitation/municipal workers, and the environment.
What should I do with my used syringes?
Used syringes and other sharps should always be placed in a sharps container and disposed of safely – either at a drop-off site or in a mail-back program. IV drug users can also enroll in a Needle Exchange Program for needle exchange and other harm reduction services. Do not clip, bend, or recap needles and always keep sharps and containers away from children and pets.
Can I put my used syringes in the trash?
No. Throwing syringes in the trash, recycling bin, or disposing them anywhere that is not a safe needle disposal container is against the law and could lead to a fine. Sharps that have been improperly disposed of pose a health and safety risk to the public and to sanitation workers. Sharps and syringes must be disposed of at a needle and syringe disposal drop-off site or through a medical mail-back service.
What should I do if I find a needle on a public way?
If you find a needle on a sidewalk or other public way, please call the Mayor’s Hotline at 3-1-1. Provide the location of the needle(s) with as much detail as possible and the Mobile Sharps Team will locate and collect the waste.
LOCATIONS FOR SAFE SYRINGE DISPOSAL IN BOSTON
AIDS Action Committee
Inside Access Program lobby
75 Amory Street Boston , MA 02130
617-450-1379
Boston Health Care for the Homeless
In lobby
780 Albany Street Boston, MA 02118
857-654-1641
Boston Public Health Commission
35 Northampton Street Boston, MA 02118
617-534-5395
Project Trust
Inside building
721 Massachusetts Ave Boston, MA 02118
617-414-4495
Neponset Health Center
398 Neponset Avenue Dorchester, MA 02122
617-534-5395
MA Alliance of Portuguese Speakers
Inside doorway
1 Stoughton Street Dorchester, MA 02125
617-825-5897
Walgreens Community Pharmacy
Inside pharmacy
21-23 Stanhope Street Boston, MA 02116
617-375-7969
Women Connecting Affecting Change (WCAC)
In lobby
409 Blue Hill Avenue Dorchester, MA 02121-4309
617-541-1050
Dimock Community Health Center
Outside kiosk; right side of the building
40 Dimock Street Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-8800
Clifford Park
171 Norfolk Ave
Proctor St Entrance (behind Red Cross)
Boston, MA 02119
Orchard Garden Park
Keegan Street Entrance
Roxbury, MA 02119
Boston Public Health Commission
906 Albany St
Boston, MA 02119
Boston Public Health Commission
112 Southampton St
Boston, MA 02118
