Safe Syringe Disposal – What You Need to Know
Atlantic County Division of Public Health
201 S. Shore Road • Northfield, NJ 08225 • 609-645-5971 • atlanticcountynj.gov
Current New Jersey laws prohibit citizens from disposing of “sharps” (needles, syringes, lancets, etc.) intact or as a whole unit in the regular trash. Residents who need to dispose of these items can do so legally in two different ways:
- Sharps can be destroyed by breaking or cutting the needle, barrel and plunger—making the syringe unusable. The pieces can then be thrown away in the regular trash. Be careful in using this method—it may cause accidental needle punctures.
- You can also dispose of sharps by putting the entire unit into a rigid container and taking it to a licensed facility (such as a hospital) for proper disposal.
Syringe disposal programs are offered at the following Atlantic County hospitals:
- AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—City Division, Atlantic City, Phone: 609-572-8300
- AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—Mainland Division, Galloway Township, Phone: 609-652-3453
- Shore Medical Center —Environmental Services, Somers Point, Phone: 609-653-3612
- AtlantiCare Health Park—Hammonton, Phone: 609-704-3366
If you have any questions or want to learn more about safe syringe disposal, call the Atlantic County Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Unit at 609-645-5971 ext. 4395.
Hammonton Public Works Department
Scott V. Rivera CPWM, CRP/SRMP
Public Works Department Head
Phone: 609-567-4336
E-Mail: srivera@townofhammonton.org