Find a sharps collection box
Use Metro's interactive tool to find a sharps collection box. You can view a complete list of boxes and use the map to search by address or zooming in.
Use interactive tool
The collection boxes can accept quart-sized sharps containers only and are not for business use. If a collection box is full or jammed, please call Metro's RID Patrol at 503-234-3000.
Metro manages the sharps collection boxes in partnership with Multnomah County and City of Portland.
Sharps can harm people, pets and wildlife when discarded improperly. If you use sharps at home, drop them off at a Metro household hazardous waste facility, neighborhood collection event or sharps collection box for free.
Some garbage and recycling collection companies in greater Portland provide sharps disposal programs for their customers. Call your hauler to learn whether this service is available to you.
Free sharps disposal is not available to business. Businesses looking for disposal options should contact a medical waste management company, their local garbage hauler or call Metro at 503-234-3000.
What are sharps?
Sharps are medical instruments such as syringes, lancets, auto-injectors, needles, needle connectors and infusion sets. Proper sharps disposal is necessary to prevent causing injury, spreading infection or polluting the environment.
Sharps container exchange program
Metro’s sharps container exchange program provides people living in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties with approved sharps containers. Enroll in person at a Metro household hazardous waste facility for free. Businesses are not eligible for the program.
Safe sharps disposal
Throwing sharps in the trash is illegal in Oregon. Used sharps put haulers and other workers at risk for injury and, if contaminated, can transmit diseases.
Follow the steps below to dispose of sharps safely. If you find discarded sharps in a public space and don’t feel comfortable picking them up, contact Metro’s RID Patrol.
- Handle carefully. Use tongs or wear gloves that cannot be punctured. Hold sharps so that needle tips or blades point away from your body to avoid accidental injury.
- Contain and seal. Place an approved sharps container on the ground or another flat surface, place the sharps inside the container and seal tightly. Do not overfill the container – refer to the “full” line on the outside of the container. If you do not have an approved sharps container, seal the sharps in a hard plastic container that cannot be punctured easily, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Label the container to read, “Sharps. Do not recycle.”
- Drop off for disposal. Bring the sealed sharps container to a Metro household hazardous waste facility, neighborhood collection event or sharps collection box. Note that collection boxes can accept quart-sized sharps containers only. Use Metro’s find a recycler tool to locate additional collection facilities or call 503-234-3000 for assistance.