What are Sharps?

In the home, sharps include disposable hypodermic needles and syringes, lancers, and other medical devices used for self injection or blood tests, which may have a sharp tip or end.

Why Separate Sharps from the Solid Waste Stream?

Disposal of sharps into the solid waste stream cause many problems. They can clog sewer

systems, hinder recycling efforts, and may put solid waste workers and the community at risk of injury or illness.

Program Participation

All Highlands County residents and visitors who, for medical reasons, must administer injections or perform blood tests at home are encouraged to participate in this free program. Residents participating in this program will receive a free sharps container for the proper and safe disposal of used sharps.  These containers are specially designed to contain sharps and are similar to those used by physicians, hospitals, dentists, and others in the health care community. Disposal of sharps containers is performed by the properly certified company which specializes in this type of waste disposal.

Sharps Container Guidelines

1. Sharps containers must be obtained from one of the participating pharmacies listed in this web site.

2. Place your sharps container out of reach of pets and small children.

3. After administering your injection or performing other tests using sharps, drop the sharp into the sharps container.

4. When the contents of the container reach the fill line close the locking lid mechanism, complete the identification sticker, place the sticker on the top of the sharps

containers, and take the container to one of the participating pharmacies for proper disposal.

Do not place sharps containers into your household garbage.

A replacement sharps container will be issued when the full container is received by pharmacy personnel. However, pharmacy personnel will not accept overfilled containers or containers visibly contaminated on the outside.  Pharmacy personnel will only accept county approved containers and will not accept inappropriate sharps containers.

Participating Pharmacies

During regular business hours, the following participating pharmacies will provide county residents and visitors with sharps containers free of charge.  You can obtain your initial and replacement containers at one of the following locations:

Heartland Pharmacy

3572 US 27 South

Sebring , FL 33870

863‑385‑2200

Gilbert Drugs

301 Circle Street South

Sebring , FL 33870

385‑6310

Heartland Pharmacy/Medical Supply

204 US 27 South, Suite 2

Lake Placid , FL 33852

699‑6155

Heartland Pharmacy

6360 US 27 North

Sebring , FL 33870

385‑5588