Needle Disposal
Swan River Community Sharps Retrieval Phone Line
This phone line is to help with pickups of improperly disposed needles in the community of Swan River.
- When calling please indicate the location, date and time of where you found the needle and a staff member will be sent to pick it up. If the needle or item you have located needs to be picked up immediately, please consider removing it using the steps below.
- Community sharps clean ups are scheduled Monday – Friday from 9am-11am.
- There will be no needle picks up on stat holidays.
Needles can be taken to Swan Valley Primary Care Centre or the Public Health Office located in the Swan Valley Health Centre.
Dispensing harm reduction supplies is an important part of developing connections to care for people who use drugs, while also reducing the risk of transmitting blood-borne infections, such as hepatitis C and HIV. Together, with community stakeholders and provincial health partners, we will continue strengthening efforts to improve community safety while also ensuring compassionate care and access to the region’s health and addiction services.
Steps to safely dispose of a found needle
If the needle or item you have located needs to be picked up immediately, please consider removing it using the following steps:
Find a sturdy hard plastic container such as an empty pop bottle to put it in.
Do not recap the needle.
Use gloves or tongs if available.
Pick up the needle in the center of the barrel and point tip away from you.
Put the sharp end of the needle down into the container and secure the lid.
Needles can be taken to your local Public Health Office.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you pick up needle.