First, decide whether this is yours to handle

There is no obligation to pick up a needle yourself. Leaving it alone and keeping people away is always an acceptable choice.

  • IfIt is on a public sidewalk, park, alley or right-of-wayThenLeave it, keep children away and report it to the city. In Denver, ask Denver 311 how discarded syringes on public property are reported; suburbs have their own city service lines.
  • IfIt is a single syringe on your own property and you feel comfortableThenYou can contain it carefully using the steps below.
  • IfThere are many needles, or they are mixed into bedding, clothing, trash or clutterThenDo not dig through the material by hand. This is work for people with puncture-resistant gloves and sharps containers.
  • IfThe needles are part of a scene involving an overdose or deathThenCall 911 and leave everything as it is for responders.

Containing a single needle on your property

  1. Get a rigid container.Use an approved sharps container or a heavy plastic bottle with a screw cap, such as a laundry detergent bottle. Do not use glass, soda bottles or bags.
  2. Protect your hands.Wear sturdy gloves. Disposable gloves alone do not stop a needle point, so use tongs or pliers to pick it up.
  3. Pick up by the barrel.Grip the syringe away from the point. Never try to recap it, bend it or break it.
  4. Drop it in point first.Place the container on a stable surface, put the needle in point down, and close the lid tightly. Tape the lid and label it as sharps.
  5. Wash and dispose.Wash your hands with soap and water. Ask your city, county health department or a local pharmacy about sharps drop-off options rather than putting the container in recycling.

Where needles tend to turn up

Property managers in central Denver and along major corridors often find sharps in stairwells, laundry rooms, parking structures, alleys behind detached garages and landscaping beds. Landlords also find them during turnovers, tucked into couch cushions, mattresses, ceiling tiles, bathroom vanities and the pockets of clothing left behind. Hoarded homes can hold large numbers of them mixed into debris.

Because needles hide, the safest habit is to never reach blindly into a space you cannot see. Move clothing and bedding with tongs, shake bags out onto a hard surface rather than reaching inside, and use a flashlight on dim shelves. Workers sorting this kind of material should wear puncture-resistant gloves and move slowly; a provider who rushes sorting to save time is taking risks with people's health.

Common questions

Can I put a sharps container in my curbside trash?
Rules vary by city and hauler. Ask your trash service or local health department first, and look for pharmacy or health department drop-off programs.

General information for the Denver area, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.