Monroe County, Indiana

If you have come across an improperly disposed of syringe in a public space in Monroe County, you may call (812) 349-2543, leave a message with  your name, phone number, and specific location of syringe, and staff will respond during normal business hours.  

Staff do not provide call-back confirmation that a syringe had been disposed of as a part of this service. 

If there are syringes already in a dumpster or other waste disposal unit, please contact the sanitation service provider for that unit to alert them of the location and that there are sharps in the unit. 

MCHD is not equipped as a bio-hazard cleanup crew. If there is a large volume of syringes and other types of waste, if syringes are on private property, state property, or in an enclosed area without public access, please note that we may not be able to provide pickup services. 

If you need to dispose of a needle or sharp: 

DO NOT force needles or sharps into a container, put fingers inside the container, bend, break, recap or remove the needle, or walk while holding the needle. 

INSTEAD make sure that you can clearly see and move around the needle, ensure no children or others are nearby, use gloves, and bring your sharps container or alternative to the needle, not the other way around. 

TAKE ACTION by putting on gloves, placing the container on the ground beside the syringe, picking the syringe up by the middle of the barrel by using tongs or gloved hands (whichever provides the most control), placing the syringe into the sharps container sharp end first, securing the lid of the sharps container, removing gloves, and washing your hands. 

If you do not have access to a SHARPS container, use a sturdy, puncture-resistant container with a tight fitting, puncture-resistant lid (such as a laundry detergent bottle) to dispose of the syringe. After placing the syringe into the container, tape the lid and write 'Sharps - Do Not Recycle' clearly and legibly on the outside of the container before placing it in the trash. You may also drop off sharps at a community drop-off location.

Monroe County Syringe Service Program provides education and materials for picking up and disposing of sharps found in the community. We hope that with these Monroe County specific tools, you can feel more empowered to dispose of sharps found in the community.

Click on the images below for printable resources on safe sharps disposal:

DISPOSAL OPTIONS

The map below highlights locations where community partners have publicly available sharps containers on site for non-commercial, community use.

MCHD relies on limited grant funding to dispose of community found sharps. If you are a medical provider or other business who regularly generate sharps waste, we ask that you utilize Solid Waste Management or establish another regular disposal provider such as SteriCycle, as community disposal boxes are intended for general community use, not commercial or business use.

Mail back options can also be purchased for individuals or businesses through providers like SteriCycle, McKesson, and even Amazon.

Click on the arrow icon to the left of 'Monroe County Sharps Disposal' to view the map legend. This includes information about where the disposal units are located, what they look like, what hours the units are accessible and other relevant information. This is not an exhaustive list, and will be updated. If your agency would like to be listed on this map, please email mvehslage@co.monroe.in.us. 

City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Partnership 

For the 2020 calendar year Monroe County Health Department and Bloomington Parks Department piloted a syringe disposal program with containers available in three city parks: Seminary Park, Rev. E. Butler Park, and Building Trades Park. For the news release regarding the partnership, click here. This partnership was renewed in April 2021 (see meeting minutes section B-2 for more info). 

MEDICATION DISPOSAL

Community members often ask about medication disposal. Below are some resources in Monroe County: 

• CVS Pharmacy #6697
  • 2701  East 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401
  • As per website, 'follows pharmacy hours of operation. Accepts controlled substances, no sharps, aerosols, inhalers, illicit drugs, chemotherapy waste'
• Ellettsville Police Department (kiosk in lobby)
  • 1406 W. Guy McCown Dr., Ellettsville, IN 47429
  • Contact Officer John Newcomer with questions at jnewcomer@ellettsville.in.us or call 812-876-2270 ext.110
• IU Health Bloomington Hospital
  • 2651 E Discovery Parkway, Bloomington, IN 47408
  • 2nd floor
• Walmart (kiosk in pharmacy)
  • 3313 IN-45, Bloomington, IN
• Waste Reduction District of Monroe County
  • 3400 S. Walnut St. Bloomington, IN 47401
  • 812-349-2848
  • As per website, 'The Monroe County Solid Waste Management District only accepts over the counter, non-prescription medications in the original container. These will only be accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility and must be in their original container/packaging.'
• Monroe Fire Protection District
  • Medicine take-back bags are available at all seven Monroe Fire Protection District fire houses, as well as on many of the fire trucks. Any individual needing medicine take back backs (as well as Narcan and gun locks) can pick up at:
    • Station 21 – 9094 S Strain Ridge Rd
    • Station 22 – 3953 S Kennedy Dr
    • Station 23 – 8019 S Rockport Rd
    • Station 24 – 7606 E State Rd 45
    • Station 25 – 5081 N Old State Rd 37
    • Station 29 – 2130 S Kirby Rd
    • Station 39 – 9039 W Hinds Rd
  • Call Headquarters at 812-331-1906 with questions

The Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force has mapped a list of permanent take-back locations in Indiana linked here. 

For more information on safe medication disposal: https://www.in.gov/bitterpill/prevention/medicine-disposal/

This page was updated/reviewed 6/2024