Safe Disposal of Needles & Medicine
Safe disposal of medical sharps and medications helps keep our community safe.
Household “Sharps” (Needles)
Household sharps, such as needles, lancets, and syringes used for self-administration of insulin and similar medications, must be disposed of properly to prevent public health risks. If not properly secured, discarded needles may expose your family, pets, and local sanitation workers or emergency responders to needlestick injuries and potential infection. You can prevent injury, illness, and pollution by properly disposing of the sharp objects and contaminated materials you use in administering health care at home.
An anonymous drop box is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in the front lobby of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, located at 23150 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown. Community members can also check with their local pharmacy to see if they have a drop box.
At this time, only personal sharps will be collected and not those from businesses or organizations. Please unwrap/remove packaging from all sharps prior to drop-off. For large quantities of medical sharps, please call the St. Mary’s County Health Department Harm Reduction Program in advance at 301-862-1680.
Medications
Proper disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications protects our community in many ways. It prevents poisoning of children and pets, deters misuse by youth and adults, and avoids health problems from accidentally taking the wrong medicine, too much of the same medicine, or a medicine that is too old to work well. Proper disposal of medicines also protects our environment by keeping drugs from entering our water when poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet.
Prescription Drop-Off Program
Community members can safely dispose of medications 24/7 using the anonymous drop boxes in the front lobby of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, located at 23150 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown.
SMCHD Outreach, Collection & Resources
SMCHD’s Behavioral Health Division conducts several prevention and outreach events throughout the year, including medication collection and community education on safe use and disposal. SMCHD also has a limited number of Deterra® Drug Deactivation System bags for safe, at-home disposal of medications. Contact the Behavioral Health Division at (301) 475-4951 for more information.
Other Home Medical Waste
Soiled bandages, disposable pads, used medical gloves, and other non-sharp medical items should be placed in securely fastened plastic trash bags before they are put in the garbage can.
Additional Resources
It is important to note that this disposal information pertains only to household medical items. By law, businesses have different medical waste disposal criteria.
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