Safe Sharps Disposal

Treat all needles and drug equipment as contaminated. 

• Wear gloves (i.e. latex, rubber or leather gardening gloves). Gloves are meant to protect against fluid contamination, not punctures or cuts.
• Use tongs, pliers or tweezers to pick up the needle. Be sure to clean and disinfect the pickup instrument afterwards.
• Pick up the needle by the plastic end (syringe).
• Do not try to recap used needles.
• Point the needle tip away from your body. Be very careful not to poke yourself with the needle.
• Put the sharps disposal container on a stable surface next to the needle. Do not hold the container in your hand while placing the needle inside.
• Place the needle point down into the container. Do not force the needle into the container.
• If you do not have a specialized sharps container, put the needle into a non-breakable, puncture-proof container with a lid (i.e. thick plastic bottle or tin can).
• Close the container securely.
• Find the nearest needle disposal location. Do not flush needles down the toilet or put them in the garbage or recycling box.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after removal of gloves.

If a needle injury occurs, seek immediate medical attention.

For further information, please contact us at 519-575-4400.

• I Found a Needle

The outdoor sharps kiosk program provides residents of Waterloo region with safe and convenient options for sharps disposal. The kiosks are secure, tamper-proof drop boxes and are for individuals and community workers to use to dispose of sharps. 

Commercial and clinic waste is not permitted in the sharps kiosks. Businesses or clinics must make private arrangements for disposal of their waste. 

Residents can consult the Region of Waterloo Waste Whiz to determine where to dispose of syringes safely.

All Needle Syringe Programs (NSP) in Waterloo Region also accept sharps container returns. A list of partner agencies can be found here.

You can dispose of your sharps (loose needles or containers, up to 4L size) at various disposal kiosks across Waterloo Region. Locations of outdoor sharps disposal kiosks in Waterloo Region:

Kitchener

• 49 Ardelt Avenue – A Better Tent City
• 15 Charles Street West – Charles Street Terminal
• 150 Duke Street West – Consumption and Treatment Services Site
• 42 Stirling Lane – Ray of Hope Community Centre
• 97 Victoria Street North – The Working Centre - Behind St. John's Kitchen (also accessible via Helt Lane)
• 1668 King Street East - The Working Centre Shelter 

Waterloo

• Laurel and Peppler Street (on the Iron Horse Trail)
• 99 Regina Street South – Region of Waterloo Public Health
• 139 University Avenue West
• 1001 Erbs Road - Erbs Road Outdoor Shelter

Cambridge

• 150 Main Street – Region of Waterloo Public Health
• 26 Simcoe Street – The Bridges Shelter 

Working to Improve Neighbourhood Safety (WINS) hires and trains people who have experience living with substance use to safely find and dispose of used needles and provide harm reduction outreach. It is a partnership between Sanguen Health Centre, Public Health, and local municipalities.

The WINS program began in Cambridge in 2018 and expanded to Waterloo and Kitchener in 2021. For more information on the program, please visit Sanguen Health Centre.

WINS evaluations:

• Infographic of WINS data from January 2021-December 2022
• January 2021-December 2022 executive summary

To report inappropriately discarded needles, contact your city or township directly.

• City of Kitchener – 519-741-2345
• City of Cambridge – 519-623-1340
• City of Waterloo – 519-886-2310 or sharpscleanup@waterloo.ca
• Township of North Dumfries – 519-632-8800
• Township of Wilmot – 519-634-8444
• Township of Woolwich – 519-669-1647
• Township of Wellesley – 519-699-4611

You can also call 519-575-4400 and your call will be directed to the appropriate office. 

For needles found on private property, it is the responsibility of the property owner to discard of the needles. See “How to pick up and dispose of a needle”.

Region of Waterloo Public Health is mandated to provide the Needle Syringe Program. This program operates on the harm reduction principle of providing clients with an adequate amount of sterile needles to prevent needle sharing and needle reusing. The main goal of this program is to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, primarily HIV and Hepatitis C, and minimize the risks associated with substance use in the greater community.

Individuals receive information and support on how to reduce their harm associated with substance use, and are provided sharps containers and information on various disposal locations.

All Needle Syringe Programs in Waterloo Region provide sharps containers to individuals who use substances, and accept used supplies. For more information please visit Needle Syringe Program.

• Be Smart with Sharps
• If a Child Finds a Needle
• I Found a Needle

For individuals who inject medication such as insulin, containers are available at select pharmacies. Go to www.healthsteward.ca to find a participating pharmacy near you.

For other individuals, containers are available at the following locations:

• Public Health and Paramedic Services, Clinic, 150 Main Street, 1st floor, Cambridge (Mon to Fri 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.)
• Public Health and Paramedic Services, Clinic, 99 Regina Street South, 2nd floor, Waterloo – no services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Needle Syringe Program partner agencies in Waterloo Region - check the Needle Syringe Program page for locations. 
• Select pharmacies - go to www.healthsteward.ca to find a participating pharmacy near you.

You can pick up a sharps container for community cleanups at the following locations: 

• Public Health and Paramedic Services, Clinic, 150 Main Street, 1st floor, Cambridge (Monday to Friday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.)
• Public Health and Paramedic Services, Clinic, 99 Regina Street South, 2nd floor, Waterloo – no services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A Needle Syringe Program (NSP) partner agency in Waterloo Region. A list of partner agencies can be found here.

If unable to pick up at partner agency, send an email to Harmreduction@regionofwaterloo.ca.

Businesses and health care providers must obtain sharps disposal containers and arrange for a disposal contract with a biomedical waste disposal company.

For more information about sharps disposal guidelines in Ontario, check The Management Of Biomedical Waste In Ontario.

You can also contact a local biohazard waste disposal company.