Pinellas County Hazardous Waste Disposal

What are Sharps?

The American Diabetes Association’s statistics show that there are an estimated 2800 insulin-dependent county residents plus seasonal visitors who use sharps. In addition, there are others whose medical condition require the use of injected medication.
At a minimum of one shot per day, ONE MILLION sharps enter the solid waste stream annually in Pinellas County.

Problems Caused by Sharps

If sharps are not disposed of properly, they can cause many problems.

• They clog sewers and lift stations
• They end up at recycling centers
• They puncture solid waste containers, placing workers along collection routes and at landfills at risk of injury and/or disease
• They threaten public safety
• They may be contaminated with hepatitis, HIV (the disease that causes AIDS) and other serious or fatal diseases

What You Can Do!

The program is a cooperative effort between DOH, the Board of County Commissioners of Pinellas County, the American Diabetes Association and sponsors listed below. This is a public health and safety program and the cost has been underwritten by the sponsors as a public service.

THE PROGRAM IS VOLUNTARY AND FREE OF CHARGE:
ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF PINELLAS COUNTY ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE.

This program is being provided by the private sector.
All professionals and businesses regulated under state and federal
biohazardous waste laws may not participate.

How the Program Works

Visit one of the participating exchange sites listed below. Ask for an approved sharps container and brief instructions on use.

• Take the container to your home and place it out of reach of children.
• As needed, perform your injection and then dispose of the syringe completely intact into the sharps container.

DO NOT SNAP OFF THE NEEDLE!
DO NOT RECAP THE NEEDLE!

When the container is full of discarded syringes, permanently close the top by following the simple directions. Once this procedure has been completed, return the sharps container to one of the participating exchange sites for proper disposal.

Exchange Sites

Select the links to view/hide list of exchange sites.

• Florida Hospital North Pinellas
  1395 S Pinellas Avenue
  Tarpon Springs
  (727) 942-5000 x2870
  Inquire at Emergency Room
  Hours: Sun-Sat 8-4:30
• Morton Plant Mease Health
  Care-Dunedin
  601 Main Street
  Dunedin
  (727) 734-6141
  Inquire at Emergency Room
  Hours: Mon-Fri 8-4
• Morton Plant Mease Health
  Care-Countryside
  3231 McMullen Booth Road
  Safety Harbor
  (727) 725-6100
  Inquire at Emergency Room
  Hours: Mon-Fri 8-4
• Morton Plant Mease Health
  Care-Clearwater
  300 Pinellas Street
  Clearwater
  (727) 461-8552
  Inquire at Emergency Room
  Hours: Mon-Fri 8-4
• Largo Medical Center
  201 14th Street SW
  Largo
  (727) 588-5200
  Inquire at reception desk
  Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-2:30
• Morton Plant Mease-Bardmoor
  (Emergency Room)
  8839 Bryan Dairy Road
  Largo
  (727) 395-2600
  Inquire at reception desk
  Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5

• Northside Medical Center
  6000 49th Street North
  St. Petersburg
  (727) 521-4411
  Inquire at information desk
  Hours: Mon-Fri 9-4
• St. Petersburg Medical Center
  6500 38th Avenue North
  St. Petersburg
  (727) 384-1414
  Inquire at information desk
  Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5
• St. Anthony's Hospital
  1200 7th Avenue North
  St. Petersburg
  (727) 825-1272
  Inquire at Emergency Room
  Hours: Mon-Fri 8-4
• Palms of Pasadena Hospital
  1501 Pasadena Avenue South
  St. Petersburg
  (727) 381-1000 x7657
  Inquire at information desk
  Hours: Mon-Fri 9-3
• Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
  501 6th Avenue South
  St. Petersburg
  (727) 767-4720
  (727) 767-4250
  Inquire at Emergency Room
  Hours: Sun-Sat 8-5

Sponsored By:

Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Palms of Pasadena Hospital
Morton Plant Hospital
Mease Hospital
St. Petersburg General
Northside Hospital