The Sharps Disposal Program safely collects needles, syringes, and other potentially dangerous items and properly disposes of them to ensure the safety of Pinellas County residents and visitors. Sharps are items having the potential to puncture or lacerate. These include syringes with attached needles and disposable lancets. They can cause injuries to waste collectors and potentially spread illnesses such as hepatitis or HIV.

How the Program Works 

  1. Visit one of the participating disposal sites listed below.
  2. Ask for an approved sharps container and brief instructions on use.
  3. Take the container to your home and place it out of reach of children.
  4. As needed, perform your injection, and then dispose of the syringe completely intact into the container.

Once the container is filled, seal it properly and return it to one of the participating collection sites for proper disposal. Always hand the filled and properly sealed sharps container to authorized personnel. Never leave a sharps container unattended.

Disposal Sitesย 
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Florida Hospital North Pinellas

1395 S Pinellas Ave.
Tarpon Springs
727-942-5000, Ext. 2870
Inquire at Emergency Room
Sunday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

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Morton Plant Mease HealthCare – Dunedin

601 Main St.,ย 
Dunedin
727-734-6141
Inquire at Emergency Room
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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Morton Plant Mease HealthCare – Countryside

3231 McMullen Booth Road
Safety Harbor
727-725-6100
Inquire at Emergency Room
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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Morton Plant Mease HealthCare – Clearwater

300 Pinellas St.,ย 
Clearwater
727-461-8552
Inquire at Emergency Room
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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HCA Florida Largo Hospital

201 14th St. SW
Largo
727-588-5200
Inquire at reception desk
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

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St. Petersburg Medical Center

6500 38th Ave. North
St. Petersburg
727-384-1414
Inquire at information desk
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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HCA Florida Northside Hospital

6000 49th St. North,ย 
St. Petersburg
727-521-4411
Inquire at information desk
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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Morton Plant Mease – Bardmoor

8839 Bryan Dairy Road
Largo
727-395-2600
Inquire at reception desk
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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Palms of Pasadena Hospital

1501 Pasadena Ave. South
St. Petersburg
727-381-1000, Ext. 7657
Inquire at information desk
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

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Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

501 6th Ave. South,
St. Petersburg
727-767-4720 or 727-767-4250
Inquire at Emergency Room
Sunday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information, contact the American Diabetic Association of Tampa Bay at 813-885-5007.

Sponsored Byย 
  • Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County
  • Pinellas County Government
  • Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
  • Palms of Pasadena Hospital
  • Morton Plant Hospital
  • Mease Hospital
  • St. Petersburg General
  • Northside Hospital
  • Largo Medical Center
  • Florida Hospital North Pinellas

Infectious Disease Elimination Act

The Sharps Disposal Program is not the same as a needle exchange. In 2019, the Infectious Disease Elimination Act (IDEA) law was enacted. It allows sterile needle and syringe exchange programs for those who inject drugs with the goal of preventing disease and to provide drug cessation counseling.