Naperville Launches Free Sharps Disposal Program for Residents
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Funded the Program with a Grant
NAPERVILLE, Ill. — 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. 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 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. 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.
About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 150,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.