Safe Needle and Syringe Disposal
Safely disposing of needles, syringes, and lancets (sharps) keeps people, City workers, and the environment safe.
Boston residents use syringes for many health conditions at home. Below are tips on how to handle and dispose of syringes. You can drop off syringes, at no-cost, at the locations identified both in the Google map and printable document. These locations include major pharmacies, syringe service programs, and Boston Public Health Commission kiosks.
Syringe Drop-Off Locations
You can safely and conveniently dispose of syringes at no cost at the locations below:
- Pharmacies (red markers)
- Syringe service programs (blue markers)
- Boston Public Health Commission kiosks (dark gray markers)
- Other community programs (purple markers)
Tips for Disposing Syringes
Used syringes and other sharps should always be placed in a sharps container and disposed of safely. You can buy a container at major pharmacies and from online retailers. Bring the containers to a drop-off site identified in the Google map above. People who use drugs intravenously can enroll in a syringe service program and access other harm reduction supports.
Do not clip, bend, or recap needles. Always keep sharps and containers away from children and pets.
Mail-back optionsIf you can’t visit a drop-off center in Boston, consider using a mail-back service. They offer many container sizes and mailing cartons but are paid services.
- Medasend: Call 800-200-3581 for a price quote.
- Stericycle: Call 866-936-3411 or visit the website for a price quote.
Throwing syringes in the trash, recycling bin, or disposing of them anywhere that is not a safe needle disposal container is against the law. You could also get a fine. If you don’t use a safe container, you risk the health and safety of the public and City workers.
If you find a needle outsidePlease call BOS:311 at 3-1-1 or 617-635-4500, or use the mobile app. Tell us the location of the needle or needles with as much detail as possible. Our Mobile Sharps Team will find and collect the needle. The median collection time is 45 minutes. You can also file a request online:
Boston Pharmacy Syringe Ordinance
In 2020, the City of Boston passed an ordinance requiring most pharmacies to establish a collection system to take back used sharps. The goal of this ordinance was to provide Boston residents with more convenient, safe ways to dispose of hypodermic needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other sharps. Pharmacies may establish a kiosk or collection point inside or outside of their premises. Any person may dispose of their sharps at any collection point, without charge, whether they purchased the sharps at that pharmacy location or not.
For any questions or concerns around a particular pharmacy's obligation under the ordinance, please email Boston's Inspectional Services Department at elaine.grillo@boston.gov.
