Sharps containers
Council provides to the public a sharps container exchange service. Residents are able to purchase a 1.4L sharps container from Council for a fee of $10.00 per container.
How to dispose of sharps & medical waste properly
Do not
- Handle a syringe with bare hands
- Try to break off, bend or cover the sharp end of a syringe.
If you feel confident, you can follow these steps:
- find a hard-walled, puncture-proof container with a wide top and a secure lid
- bring the container to the syringe so you don’t have to carry the syringe
- place the container on ground next to syringe
- use protective gloves or tongs and carefully pick up the syringe, avoiding the sharp end - do not recap the needle if the cap has been removed
- place the syringe in the container, sharp end first
- if available, secure the lid of the container
- wash hands with running water and soap
- place the container in a sharps disposal bin.
If you don’t feel confident to safely dispose of the syringe, call the Whyalla City Council on 8640 3444 during business hours for clean-up. The Council cannot clean up syringes found on private property.
Alternatively, if you find unsafely disposed of syringes after hours, call the Needle Clean Up Hotline on 1300 13 1340.
The NSP locator map can also be used to find locations to dispose of used syringes within the Upper Spencer Gulf region, as all NSPs are required to provide bins for disposal: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/services/mental+health+and+drug+and+alcohol+services/drug+and+alcohol+services/dassa+services/needle+and+syringe+program