Health Department Begins Residential Sharps Collection Program

The Effingham County Health Department has received funding from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to host a Residential Sharps Collection Program. This program provides individual quart-sized sharps collection containers to interested households, as well as a permanent Residential Sharps Drop-Box in the Effingham County Health Department building at 901 W Virginia Ave.

Any Effingham County residents that routinely use sharps such as needles, syringes, or lancets are encouraged to stop by the Health Department during regular open hours (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm) to pick up a quart-sized sharps collection container to keep at home. Once full, household containers can be returned to the Effingham County Health Department during operating hours and properly disposed of in the Residential Sharps Drop-Box.

Loose sharps will not be accepted. Sharps other than needles, syringes, or lancets will also not be accepted. Properly disposing of residential sharps is an important step in preventing sharps-related injuries among people and pets in households where frequent sharps disposal is necessary. Additionally, proper disposal helps to protect sanitation workers who may be at risk of coming into contact with improperly disposed sharps.

Please call (217) 342-9237 and ask for Environmental Health for assistance with any sharps or waste disposal-related questions.