Lake County's program to assist residents with safe disposal of medical needles

Residents of Lake County can visit any staffed Lake County fire station to pick up a free Voyager container that allows for the safe disposal of biohazardous medical waste, such as syringes with attached needles and disposable lancets.

View the Sharps Disposal Program Brochure

The Lake County Department of Public Safety with the cooperation of the Lake County Department of Environmental Utilities and Leesburg Regional Medical Center (LRMC) introduced the Sharps Disposal Program in January 2006. According to LRMC, Sharps are just one category of biohazardous waste, which includes needles, scalpel blades, glass and pipettes that are used or contaminated with body fluids.

Public Safety purchased Voyager containers and distributed them to 17 fire stations across the County. The containers are easy for residents to use and prevent the potential of Sharps puncturing or lacerating waste management workers or others handling household trash.

By placing a syringe in the container and twisting the top, the Voyager safely disposes of the used needle and a small portion of the syringe. The process destroys the disposable syringe preventing any possible reuse or needle-stick injuries.

A container can hold more than 120 individual 1cc insulin syringe needles and accepts most lancets, and functions with all brands of insulin syringes. Unlike most containers that require special disposal, the Voyager container is safe to throw away with household trash.

Residents who cannot afford to purchase Sharps disposal containers at local pharmacies are encouraged to participate in the Lake County Sharps Disposal Program. For more information about the program, call Jack Fillman, Lake County Fire Rescue Chief of Emergency Medical Services and Education, at (352) 343-9458.

Related Links
Sharps Disposal Program Brochure