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Sharps Disposal Program
Environmental Health
- 239-690-2100
- LeeEH@flhealth.gov
-
Fax
239-690-2101 -
Mailing Address
2295 Victoria Avenue, #206
Fort Myers, FL 33901
____________________
TTY users can contact us through Florida Relay by dialing 7-1-1 or one of the other Relay Toll Free Numbers.
Many community residents have medical conditions, particularly diabetes, that require self-injections at home. Because of issues regarding safety and disease transmission, the disposal of home-generated needles, syringes and lancets (or "sharps") has caused some concern on the part of families, refuse services, recycling staffs and landfills.
The Lee 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
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.
Unattended Sharps Disposal Sites
Alva Fire District
| Fort Myers Shores Fire
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Bayshore Fire Dept
| Iona-McGregor Fire Dept
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Bonita Springs Fire Dept
| Lee Co Health Dept
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Boca Grande
| Lehigh Acres Fire Dept
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Cape Coral Fire Dept
| Matlacha-Pine Island Fire
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Captiva
| North Ft. Myers Fire Dept
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Upper Captiva
| San Carlos Fire Dept
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Estero Fire Rescue Service
| Sanibel Fire and Rescue
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Fort Myers Beach Fire
| South Trail Fire District
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Fort Myers Fire Dept
| Tice Fire Dept
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- How does the Lee County Program Work?
- What Else Do I Need to Know?
You may go to any fire station or health department site in Lee County pick up your initial used sharps container (red box)
- After normal injections or blood test, dispose of sharps into the box. Do not clip or recap the needle.
- Do not attempt to retrieve sharps after they have been placed in the box.
- Do not overfill the sharps box. When the box is filled, use the locking mechanism on the lid to secure it. Place strips of adhesive tape across the top of box.
- Return the sealed container to any fire station drop-off site, exchange it for a new one and repeat the process.
When dropping off the filled container, always give the sharps box to authorized personnel. Never leave a sharps box unattended. If no one is available at the fire station, DO NOT leave your sharps box because it could get into the wrong hands.
- Always keep sharps boxes out of the reach of children.
- Place your used syringes into the sharps container immediately after use. Never leave them lying around.
- Never put any container with a biohazard symbol into your trash. These containers MUST be returned to an approved disposal site.
- Do not overfill or cram needles into your sharps container. They are only puncture resistant not puncture proof.
- This is a FREE program for private individuals in Lee County who give themselves or a family member injections. Health care professionals and other business are regulated separately, and are not a part of this program.
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