Sharps are needles, syringes and lancets that are used to inject medication, drugs and supplements, or to test blood sugar levels.

Report sharps sightings

If you see any sharps or needles in Logan, please let us know so that we can remove them.

To report sharps, please call us on 07 3412 3412.

Sharps disposal

Community sharps bins are available in some public places for the disposal of sharps containers.

Please do not place single sharps and needles directly into community sharps bins. Please do not place any other material in the community sharps bins.

To use the community sharps bins, please put your sharps into a sharps container (or a rigid-walled, puncture-resistant, sealable container). You can then put the container in a community sharps bin.

You can buy sharps containers from your local pharmacy.

Other examples of suitable sealable containers include:

• a thick laundry liquid or shampoo container with a lid
• a metal coffee can with the lid taped down.

Community sharps bins

Community sharps bins are available in some public places for you to dispose of sharps containers. The locations of community sharps bins in Logan are listed below.

Where to get sharps containers

Sharps containers are available for purchase from your local pharmacy. The needle and syringe program operating from the locations listed below supplies free injecting equipment to illicit drug users and sharps bins to diabetics who use insulin. 

Finding a used syringe

If you find a used needle or syringe, please follow these steps.

1. Do not try to put a cap on it.
2. Find a rigid-walled, puncture-resistant, sealable container.
3. Put on latex or rubber gloves.
4. Put the container on the ground beside the needle / syringe.
5. Pick up the needle / syringe by the middle of the barrel.
6. Keep the sharp end of the needle / syringe facing away from you at all times.
7. Put the needle / syringe in the container sharp end first.
8. Put any other items that have come into contact with blood in the same container.
9. Hold the container at the top and put on the lid.
10. Take off the gloves and wash your hands with running water and soap.
11. Put the sealed container in a rubbish bin, or in a community sharps container disposal bin.
12. Tell children to find an adult if they find needles / syringes.

For more information or help, please call us on 07 3412 3412 or the Needle Helpline on 1800 633 353 (1800 NEEDLE).

Needle-stick injuries

If you receive an injury from a needle or syringe, please follow these steps.

1. Stay calm.
2. Encourage the wound to bleed (gently squeeze it).
3. Wash the area with cold running water and soap.
4. Apply antiseptic and a Band-Aid.
5. Contact your local doctor.

For information about testing, counselling and immunisation please call:

• your local doctor
• Logan Hospital
• a sexual health clinic
• a community health centre.

There are currently no published reports of any member of the public contracting HIV, Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B infection after injury from a used needle in Australia. This is because HIV and Hepatitis B and C viruses do not survive for long outside the body.