Needles and syringes must be disposed of safely in syringe (or 'sharps') containers.
To avoid needle-stick injuries that can transmit blood-borne diseases and pose a danger to our staff and the public, you must not put needles or syringes in waste, recycling or FOGO bins.
Where to dispose of needles and syringes
Syringe disposal units are available in public toilets.
Council will only remove needles and syringes from land we own or manage.
If syringes are found on private property, it’s the responsibility of the property owner, resident or managing agent to arrange safe removal.
For residents
We offer free sharps containers to residents to dispose of used needles and syringes for personal use. You can pick up a container from our Camberwell offices. To check availability, contact us. Once a container is full, securely close the lid and return it to our Camberwell offices.
Purple cytotoxic containers are not accepted by Council.
For businesses
Businesses that use sharps for procedures or services must arrange disposal through a private contractor. Private contractors that collect and dispose of sharps are listed under Medical Waste Disposal.
If you find a needle or syringe in a public place
If you find a needle or syringe in a public place, you can do one of the following:
- call the Victorian Syringe Disposal Helpline on 1800 552 355 (free call, 24 hours)
- call our customer service team on (03) 9278 4444 and we will organise for it to be picked up.
For more information on disposing of syringes and needles, see Health Victoria's Needle and Syringe Program.