Safe Sharps

For your safety and the safety of others: Sharps should only be placed in a Safe Sharps Container.

Used sharps must be handled properly.

  • DO NOT put needles, syringes or lancets in plastic bottles or jugs.
  • DO NOT put needles, syringes or lancets in garbage or recycling bags.
  • DO NOT flush needles, syringes or lancets down the toilet.
  • DO NOT burn needles, syringes or lancets.

Safe Sharps Program

Note: The Safe Sharps program does not include used sharps from any commercial enterprises including medical, dental or veterinary clinics, home care professionals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or farms. To properly dispose of these types of sharps, please contact your respective professional association. 

Please follow these steps to safely dispose of syringes, needles, and lancets:

  1. Pick up a free Safe Sharps container at your community pharmacy.

  2. Place your used syringes, needles and lancets into the Safe Sharps container.

  3. When the container is almost full, seal the lid.

  4. Return the sealed container to your community pharmacy

The Safe Sharps program is funded by Nova Scotia’s pharmacies, sharps manufacturers and medication distributors.

 

Intravenous Drug Use

Access to pails at local pharmacies are available but Sharps generated by intravenous drug users are asked to return to a needle exchange program at one of the following locations: 

Mainline Needle Exchange
5511 Cornwallis St, Halifax
(902) 423-9991 or Toll-free:(877) 904-4555

Sharp Advice Needle Exchange (S.A.N.E)
150 Bentinck St, Sydney
(902) 539-5556

Northern Healthy Connections Society

33 Pleasant Street, Truro

(902) 895-0931