About Stevens
Safe Needle Disposal
Stevens Hospital is committed to your safety. While we do not accept used needles or medicines from the community for disposal, we offer you some information about where to safely dispose of them.
Due to Washington State Law, sharps must be kept out of the waste stream and are not accepted for disposal at Snohomish County solid waste facilities. Used syringes, needles and lancets (collectively called "sharps") do not belong in the garbage or recycling. They can injure garbage collectors and other workers. They should not be flushed down the toilet. Used needles require special handling and disposal in order to protect public health and the environment.
A special "sharps collector" is available from some local pharmacies and other service providers. The containers are puncture-proof plastic with a lid. They hold a large number of syringes, and can be returned to the store for safe disposal. The containers are also a safe way to store used sharps for the pick-up or mail-back services available from several private waste companies.
The Snohomish County Public Works Solid Waste Management Office maintains a current list of locations where you can get a sharps container and dispose of it when full.
Most medicines can be thrown in the household trash, but consumers should take certain precautions before tossing them out, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A few drugs should be flushed down the toilet. As a growing number of community-based "take-back" programs offer another safe disposal alternative.
>> View locations where you can get a sharps container and dispose of it (PDF).
