Public service announcement
Syringe Litter Hotline
If you find improperly disposed syringes in the Missoula area, call our hotline and we’ll come and pick it up and dispose of it properly.
This is a free service and operates Monday – Thursday during our normal business hours, 10:00am-5:00pm.
If you’re out of our area or our office is closed, you can safely dispose of the syringe yourself. We have instructions on safely handling the syringe and how to dispose of them below.
How to Handle Syringe Litter
It’s possible to handle syringes without the risk of being pricked by the needle. If you would like to dispose of the syringe yourself, here are some guidelines and a video to keep you safe. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has created this fact sheet that provides guidance on the safe disposal of syringes. You can read their recommendations and follow the instructions below for safely handling syringe litter.
Prepare:
- Stay calm
- Make sure that you can clearly see and move around the needle
- Take your sharps container or alternative to where you found the syringe
- Check this site for more information on approved containers
Take Action:
- Put on gloves
- Place the container on the ground beside the syringe
- Pick up the syringe by the middle of the barrel using tongs, needle-nose pliers or gloved hands, whichever provides the most control
- Place the syringe into the sharps container sharp end first
- Secure the lid of the sharps container with duct tape
- Write “Sharps” on container using a marker
- Place in trash
- Remove gloves and wash your hands
Do Not:
- Force needles or sharps into container
- Put fingers inside the container
- Bend, break, recap or remove the needle or leave the needle unattended. If you must leave to get disposal supplies, ask another person to keep watch to avoid an accidental stick
