12/07/2026
Clarence Valley residents reminded to dispose of sharps safely
Clarence Valley Council is reminding residents who use needles, syringes, lancets and other medical sharps to dispose of them safely, helping protect waste collection workers, the community and the environment.
Sharps include not only needles and syringes, but also medical injection devices such as EpiPens, insulin KwikPens and other injection pens that contain a needle. These items should never be placed in household garbage or recycling bins, where they can cause serious injuries to waste collection workers and anyone handling waste.
Instead, used sharps should be placed in an approved puncture-resistant sharps container and taken to an authorised disposal location.
The reminder comes as more people across the community use injectable medications to manage conditions such as diabetes, allergies and other chronic health conditions, increasing the importance of safe disposal practices.
Residents are encouraged to use an Australian Standard sharps container, which can be purchased from many pharmacies. Once full, containers can be taken to an approved community sharps disposal location.
To help residents find their nearest disposal point, NSW Health provides an interactive map of sharps disposal locations across the state, including hospitals, pharmacies and other participating sites. The map is available at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/hepatitis/Pages/nsp-outlets.aspx.
If a sharp is found in a public place, people are advised not to touch it. Instead, report it to the NSW Needle Clean Up Hotline on 1800 633 353 so it can be safely removed by trained personnel.
Council says proper disposal is a simple step that helps reduce the risk of needlestick injuries and keeps public spaces, parks and waste facilities safe for everyone.
For more information about safe sharps disposal, visit Clarence Valley Council's Safe Disposal of Sharps page or use the NSW Health sharps disposal map to locate the nearest disposal facility.
