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Proper disposal of needles and diabetic testing strips
The Volusia County Health Department provides a sharps program for users of insulin and other injectable medications.
What are sharps?
Any items used for medicine injections; needles, syringes, or lancets.
Why the concern about sharps?
Used sharps pose a health and safety risk to our community. Accidental needle-stick injuries can transmit blood-borne pathogens. It is estimated that nationwide 3 billion needle injections occur outside of medical facilities. Approximately 2 billion of these injections occur in personal residences for the treatment of health issues such as diabetes, cancer, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, psoriasis, and osteoporosis.
Without clear and proper instructions for the disposal of sharps, community members are confused as to how to properly discard of their used sharps. Many residents store used sharps in their homes, and others dispose of them improperly in a trash or recycling bin. None of these options are acceptable! The improper disposal of sharps is a county-wide health and safety hazard.
How to properly dispose of sharps
Residents may drop off needles, lancets and diabetic testing strips in approved red sharps containers without charge at these Volusia County Health Department Environmental Health offices:
- 1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach - 386-274-0500
- 121 W. Rich Ave., DeLand - 386-822-6250
- 717 W. Canal St., New Smyrna Beach - 386-424-2061
- 3151 Howland Blvd., Deltona - 386-789-7507
Sharps containers can be purchased in the Environmental Health offices. The cost is $3 for a 1.5-quart container, or $5 for an 8-quart container.
Additional drop off sites for properly contained needles, lancets and diabetic testing strips are available at Volusia County's household hazardous waste facilities, located at:
- Tomoka Farms Road Landfill, 1990 Tomoka Farms Road, Port Orange
- West Volusia Transfer Station, 3151 E. New York Ave., DeLand
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