Needle and syringe management

Needles and syringes are used for a range of purposes, including diabetics and people on dialysis, and pet and livestock owners for animal health care. They are also used by injecting drug users (see safe injecting).

'Community Sharps' is the name used to describe needles, syringes, lancets, canulas and other equipment used for these activities.

Safe disposal of sharps

Sharps must be kept secure and separate from other waste. They can cause injury and a health risk to workers and residents if not disposed of correctly.

Never dispose of sharps in recycling bins, garbage bins, street litter bins, or down toilets or drains.

You can place needles into a plastic container with a secure lid (for example a plastic drink bottle with lid secured tightly) and then put the bottle into the red-lid bin. Do not use glass containers.

Commercial disposal of needles requires additional medical sharps containers. You will need to contact your local waste disposal business for additional information.

All harm reduction and needle syringe programs and pharmacy needle exchanges provide safe disposal bins for sharps.

Hand putting used syringe into yellow sharps box.

Report needles in public places

If you find a needle in a public place, call the NSW Health Needle Clean-up Hotline on 1800 633 353 or Council on 02 6670 2400.

Needle exchange locations

Tweed Valley Hospital

Needle Syringe Program (NSP)

Health Hub, 771 Cudgen Road, Cudgen

The Tweed Valley Hospital Harm Reduction Service is located at the Health Hub and includes:

  • Harm Reduction/NSP Service (open Mon, Tues, Thur and Fri from 12:30 pm – 4 pm)
  • 24-hour access to a range of free and paid equipment via chutes and vending machines
  • 24-hour sharps safe-disposal bin

For information on services, outreach and delivery service, please call or text 0428 233 393.

Murwillumbah Hospital – needle syringe program

Ewing Street, Murwillumbah – 02 6672 1822

There is a sharps disposal bin next to the 24hr 'fitpack' needle dispensing machine at the front of Murwillumbah hospital (charges apply).

Drop-in service open: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 am – 12 noon

Back up service through the emergency department.

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