There are many reasons why people use needles, including for health conditions. Needles that are not disposed of properly can pose a safety risk to our community. Needlestick injuries, sharing needles, and other drug equipment can put you at risk for getting an infection. Learn more below!
CITY PROPERTY (sidewalk, street, boulevard, park, trail, or facility)
- Contact the City of Windsor at 3-1-1 to report the needle and arrange for disposal.
- Outside of the City of Windsor please follow the Steps For Safe Needle Disposal, listed below.
ON MY PROPERTY
- Landlords or property managers who find large quantities of needles may wish to contact a private biohazard company for removal and disposal, and consider installing sharps disposal bins in public areas.
- For data collection (City of Windsor only), report needle find to 3-1-1.
Treat all needles and drug equipment as contaminated. Do not try to recap the needle or break the tip off.
- Put on gloves (latex, garden, or vinyl) to protect yourself from fluid contamination. (These gloves won’t protect against punctures or cuts).
- Using tongs or tweezers, pick up needle by the middle of the plastic tube (syringe) with the sharp end facing down. If there are multiple needles, pick them up one at a time.
- Place the needle sharp end first into a puncture proof, sealable container. Close the container tightly.
- Remove gloves and wash hands with warm soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
- Dispose of containers at sharps disposal bins (throughout the City of Windsor) or at your local pharmacy.
Do not:
- Throw loose sharps in garbage.
- Put sharps in recycling bin.
- Flush sharps down toilet.
- Throw sharps in bushes, parks, or streets.
You can drop off your used sharps at any 24-hour sharps disposal bins located outdoors at:
- Street Health Windsor Essex Community Health Centre, 711 Pelissier St.
- Parking Lot Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, 962 Pelissier St.
- Parking Lot Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, 972 Goyeau St.
- AIDS Committee of Windsor 511 Pelissier St.
- Bruce Park - east side of park facing Church Street
- Wigle Park - west side of park near McDougall
- Glengarry/Marentette Neighbourhood - interior courtyard
- Senator Croll Park - close to Ontario Tourist Information Centre - west side facing Goyeau
- Downtown Transit Terminal - facing Chatham Street
- Ford City Parkette - corner of Whelpton and Drouillard
- Dufferin Place - Behind Windsor Fire Headquarters
You can also search for a community disposal bin in your area/community.
Needle syringe programs are a harm reduction strategy that aims to reduce the potential health, social, and economic effects associated with drug use by meeting people who use substances where they are at.
Sharing needles and other drug equipment or reusing used needles can put individuals at risk of getting an infection, such as group A streptococcal disease, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV.
Needle syringe programs offer free harm reduction supplies, such as new needles and other drug equipment. They also offer needle disposal bins and a place to return used needles to be disposed of safely. Educational resources regarding harm reduction strategies are also provided.
Needle syringe programs available in Windsor-Essex County are located at:
- AIDS Committee of Windsor: 511 Pelissier St., Windsor
- Welcome Centre Shelter for Women: 263 Bridge Ave, Windsor
Find out where you can find other needle syringe programs.