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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Sharps Disposal

Environmental Public Health - DOH-Charlotte

Many Charlotte County, Florida, residents have medical conditions, particularly diabetes, that require self-injections at home.

The Charlotte County Sharps Disposal Program was implemented to:

  • Help you properly dispose of your needles and lancets.
  • Provide an environmentally safe option for disposing of sharps.
  • Prevent injury to humans and animals.
  • Keep sharps out of household trash and recycling bins.
  • Provide the public with local collection sites for home generated needles and lancets.
  • Prevent the spread of infectious disease.
  • Remove used needles from circulation and prevent the sharing of needles.

If you live in Punta Gorda, Florida, the Punta Gorda Fire Department's Sharps Recovery Program might be the best option for you.

These services are for residents only, businesses cannot participate.

  • What Are Sharps?
  • Disposal of Sharps
  • How to use your sharps container
  • Locations

Sharps are defined as medical wastes, which have the potential to puncture or lacerate. This includes hypodermic and intravenous needles and syringes, as well as disposable lancets.

Once you use a syringe, needle, lancet, or other sharp, it becomes a potentially hazardous medical waste product. That is why it’s important to dispose of sharps the right way.

Never dispose of the following in your curbside carts:
  • Syringes
  • Hypodermic needles
  • Always keep sharps boxes out of the reach of children
  • Do not clip the needle
  • Do not recap the needle
  • Place hypodermic needle in the red sharps container
  • When filled, secure the lid, and do not overfill
Take the full sharps container to one of the facilities listed below and you will be given a free replacement container.

If you are unable to drive to the Charlotte County's Mini-Transfer and Recycling Facility, call 941-764-4360.

Never place used hypodermic needles or sharps containers in your waste or recycling container.

There are three locations for Charlotte County, Florida, residents to pick up and drop off a sharps container:

19675 Kenilworth Blvd.
Port Charlotte, FL 33954
Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
 
1410 Tamiami Trail           
Punt Gorda, FL 33950
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.         
 
7070 Environmental Way
Englewood, FL 33981
Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Additional Resources