Skip Global navigation and goto content

Local Sharps Disposal Program

Environmental Health

St. Lucie County residents may pay $5.00 to safely dispose of home-generated used needles, such as syringes with attached needles and disposable lancets, at the Environmental Health Division located at the Gwenda Thompson Trades Career Center, 3855 South US 1 in Fort Pierce between 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.), Monday through Friday. Residents will receive a new replacement sharps disposal container. Please note: The $5.00 disposal fee is "per container," approximately 1 gallon or smaller. Multiple or large containers may be charged additional fees.

Biomedical waste must be disposed of according to federal, state and local regulations. Used needles and other contaminated sharps must be placed in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container that is closable.

Improper disposal can cause problems ranging from placing other residents and waste management workers at health risk, to clogging lift stations when disposed in the sewer system. Sharps can transmit Hepatitis, AIDS and other fluid-borne pathogens. As the health care industry moves toward increasing the number of procedures patients can do at home, such as self-administered insulin, the safe disposal of used Sharps is a public health concern.

For more information regarding the program please call 772-873-4931.