Lancet
This item can be hazardous to safety or health. It requires special handling.
A sharp is a medical item used in health care that can puncture or cut skin.
Types of sharps include:
- auto-injectors
- injection pens
- injectors
- lancets
- needles
- prefilled pens
- syringes
NEVER:
- Put sharps in your garbage, organics or recycling.
- Flush sharps down the toilet.
- Throw sharps in a sewer.
Safe disposal of sharps
24-hour drop boxes
Bring used needles, syringes and stems to select Brampton locations and Peel Public Health clinics in Brampton and Mississauga. Get details.
Biohazard containers for safe sharps disposal
A biohazard container is for waste that could be contaminated with germs that harm people and the environment.
If you or your caregiver injects medicine through a sharp, always immediately dispose of the sharp in a secure biohazard container. The container must be fully closable, free of cracks and properly labelled.
You can pick up free, new biohazard containers from:
- Peel Community Recycle Centres.
- Pharmacies that participate in the Ontario Sharps Collection Program.
- The Region of Peel Mobile Van Service. This service operates Monday - Saturday from 4 p.m. - 11 p.m. Call 647-225-1623 to request free biohazard container.
Sharps used for home health-care
To safely dispose of a home health-care sharp:
- Pick up a free biohazard container from a Peel Community Recycling Centre (CRC).
- Wear gloves and use tongs, pliers or tweezers to pick up the sharp. Put the cap in the garbage.
- Put the sharp in the biohazard container with the needle facing downwards.
- Return the filled biohazard container to a CRC for safe, free disposal and pick up a new empty container for free.
Important: CRCs accept discarded sharps in ONLY biohazard containers. Only Peel residents can bring filled biohazard containers to a Peel CRC.
Used sharps on public properties
Never touch a used sharp you find on public property.
- Municipal staff are responsible for safely disposing of used sharps.
- If you find a sharp on public property in Brampton or Mississauga, call 3-1-1.
- If you find a sharp on public property in Caledon, call 905-584-2272.
Used sharps on private or business properties
Never touch a used sharp you find on a private or business property.
- Owners of private or business properties are responsible for disposing of sharps into biohazard containers.
Additional information:
- Safely storing, handling and disposing of sharps prevents injury and the spread of disease.
- Learn more about safely disposing of other home health-care waste.
