Golden Plains Shire Council is pleased to offer all residents free sharps containers and disposal services, ensuring safe disposal of needles and syringes while supporting community health and wellbeing.
Residents can pick up free sharps containers to dispose of used needles and syringes from Council’s Customer Hubs in Smythesdale or Bannockburn from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Once a container is full and properly sealed, it can be dropped off at one of Council's disposal units outside of the Smythesdale and Bannockburn Customer Hubs. These units are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residents are requested to put their needles and syringes in a sharps container and carefully place them down the chute.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Brett Cunningham said this important health service supported community wellbeing and promoted the safe disposal of needles and syringes.
“Needles, syringes, and other equipment such as finger prick lancets that are used to treat medical conditions in the home should be placed into community sharps bins or other disposal services provided by public hospitals and other local councils, or Council’s community sharps disposal units in Bannockburn and Smythesdale,” Cr Cunningham said.
“Having this service gives residents a safe way to dispose of sharps and ensure that needles and syringes are not left in public spaces where they can pose a danger to community members,” he said.
“Council is committed to promoting health and safety in the community while also supporting people who require needles and syringes for medical treatment.”
Please do not pick up any discarded needles or syringes found in a public location. To arrange for the needle or syringe to be collected, please call the Victorian Syringe Disposal Helpline at 1800 522 355 (a free call, 24 hours a day).
For more information about the Council's sharps disposal services, please visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/resident/waste-management or contact the Customer Experience team on 5220 7111.