Above / Grant from Illinois Environmental Protection Agency funds new program with a grant to dispose of medical needles via the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 156 Fort Hill Drive. (PN File Photo)
The City of Naperville is launching the Naperville Residential Sharps Disposal Program to provide residents with a free and easy way to dispose of medical needles. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) funds the program through the Residential Sharps Collection Program, which provides a grant to Naperville not exceeding $35,000.
“Our sharps disposal program is accessible, helps keep residents and sanitation workers safe and is environmentally friendly,” said Naperville Fire Department’s Division Chief Scott Salela. “This program is an important supplement to our Prescription Drug Drop Box Program that has provided residents with a way to dispose of unused medication for over a decade.”
Salela continued, “We thank the IEPA for this generous grant to establish the Naperville residential sharps disposal program – it’s an investment in the health and safety of our community.”
How the Program Works
Picking up a Free Sharps Container
Starting on Jan. 2, 2024, and lasting through June 30, 2024, Naperville residents may pick up sharps collection containers by visiting the Naperville Fire Department Administration Center at 1380 Aurora Ave., from 8AM to 3PM Monday through Thursday.
Securing the Sharps Container
The sharps containers are quart size and can hold about 36 one cc syringes, the most common needle size. Residents should insert the sharps point-first into the container and secure the lid. Stericycle, Inc. is the sharps container manufacturer, and workers at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW) can only accept properly secured Stericycle containers for disposal.
Disposing the Sharps at the HHW
Residents may dispose of the sealed sharps containers at the HHW facility located at 156 Fort Hill Drive on the weekends between 9AM and 2PM. Both the sharps container and the disposal are free to residents, and no appointment is necessary. HHW crews will accept the sharps containers and place them into a larger container, which Stericycle will collect for disposal when full.
This program will not accept sharps from businesses and is only for Naperville residents.
For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us.
