Needles & Sharps

Discarded hypodermic needles have become a growing concern in Saskatoon. Too often they are found in parks, near playgrounds, and schools. The fear is that someone could be accidentally stuck by a needle infected with HIV, AIDS or Hepatitis. In 1998, Saskatoon Fire Department and Public Health Services Saskatoon jointly launched a needle pick-up program. 

If you find a needle 

Follow the steps below for safe pick-up and disposal. 

• Do not recap the needle. 
• Wear garden, work or medical gloves. 
• Use tweezers, pliers or tongs to pick up by the end that is not the sharp end.  Keep away from your body. 
• Place the needle, sharp end first, into a hard container that needles cannot poke through (e.g. liquid laundry detergent or bleach container). 
• Fill a container no more than 3/4 full. If a container is too full, the needles may poke through the side. 
• Put the container lid on tightly and tape it. 
• Wash your hands with soap and water. 
• Store the container in a safe place away from children until you can dispose of it safely.  
• Do not place needles in city garbage or recycling. 
• Place in a needle drop box in your community. Call 306-655-4444 for needle drop box locations.