Needle Safety

What should I do if I find a discarded needle or other drug-use equipment?

If you are not comfortable picking it up yourself, call 311.

Safety first! Avoid touching sharps with your bare hands. Use pliers, tweezers, or tongs.

• Pick up needles/syringes by the plunger — always keep the sharp end of the needle away from you. Do not attempt to recap the needle. 
• For pipes/stems, beware of broken and sharp edges. Pick it up where it is not broken.
• Pick up sharps one at a time.
• Sharp end first, put it into a biohazard container or a non-breakable, puncture-proof container (e.g., bleach bottle, plastic peanut butter jar).
• Seal container and store safely until you can dispose of it. There are outdoor needle disposal containers at many locations in Toronto — including on the west side of the SRCHC building on Queen St. E. You can also drop it off at a pharmacy or hazardous waste disposal site.

For further information, see City of Toronto’s Needle Safety info.