What to Do with Used Sharps in Iowa
Put used sharps in a strong, plastic container that is puncture proof
Have a needle clipper? When the needle clipper is full, it can be disposed of according to your state or local regulations. More information can be found here.
Put the plastic container in the household trash - don't recycle!
If a trash collector is reluctant to collect a red sharps container, refer them to your state waste agency.
Sharps should never be thrown loosely into the trash or toilet.
Sharps that retract after use, or are very small, should be disposed of like all other sharps.
If you would like to bring your sealed container to a community sharps disposal program, there are drop-off locations in several cities and towns.
Disposal locations in Iowa (46)
| Location Name | Address | City | Phone | Service Area | Residency Restriction | Provides Containers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County Public Health Department *Appointment Required* | 25747 N Ave Ste C | Adel, 50003 | 515-993-3750 | Dallas County | Yes | No |
| Ames Household Hazardous Materials Site | 410 E 2nd St | Ames, 50010 | 515-239-5137 | Ames | Yes | No |
| Medical Waste Pros (inside LIVE Hydration Ames) | 620 Lincoln Way | Ames, 50010 | 515-373-4195 | Story County | No | No |
| Metro Waste Authority Hazardous Waste Drop-Off | 1105 Prairie Dr SW | Bondurant, 50035 | 515-967-5512 | Polk County | Yes | No |
| Boone County Landfill | 1268 224th Ln | Boone, 50036 | 515-433-0591 | Boone County | Yes | No |
| Des Moines County Health Department | 505 Curran St | Burlington, 52601 | 319-753-8290 | Des Moines County | Yes | Yes |
| Carroll County Recycling Center and Landfill | 19111 Kittyhawk Ave | Carroll, 51401 | 712-792-5001 | Carroll County | Yes | No |
| Cedar Rapids Solid Waste and Recycling Division | 500 15th Ave SW | Cedar Rapids, 52404 | 319-286-5897 | Cedar Rapids | Yes | No |
| Landfill of North Iowa *Appointment Required* | 15942 Killdeer Ave | Clear Lake, 50428 | 877-526-3345 x17 | Cerro Gordo County | Yes | Yes |
| Council Bluffs Recycling Center | 4441 Gifford Rd | Council Bluffs, 51501 | 712-890-5454 | Council Bluffs | Yes | Yes |
| All Care Health Center | 902 S 6th St | Council Bluffs, 51501 | 712-256-6583 | Council Bluffs | No | Yes |
| Hy-Vee-2323 W Broadway St, Council Bluffs | 2323 W Broadway St | Council Bluffs, 51501 | 712-322-3111 | Council Bluffs | No | Yes |
| Hy-Vee-Madison Ave, Council Bluffs | 1745 Madison Ave | Council Bluffs, 51503 | 712-322-9222 | Council Bluffs | No | Yes |
| Super Saver Pharmacy | 1141 N Broadway | Council Bluffs, 51503 | 712-322-9019 | Council Bluffs | No | Yes |
| Union Pharmacy | 235 W Broadway | Council Bluffs, 51503 | 712-396-2879 | Council Bluffs | No | Yes |
| CHI Health Clinic Valley View | 1288 Valley View Dr | Council Bluffs, 51503 | 712-328-8800 | Council Bluffs | No | Yes |
| CHI Health Clinic West Broadway | 3135 W Broadway St | Council Bluffs, 51501 | 712-328-9100 | Council Bluffs | No | Yes |
| Regional Health Services of Howard County | 235 8th Ave W | Cresco, 52136 | 563-547-6666 | Howard County | No | No |
| Union County Emergency Management | 705 E Taylor St | Creston, 50801 | 641-782-1622 | Union County | No | No |
| Scott Area Recycling Center | 5640 Carey Ave | Davenport, 52804 | 563-386-9575 | Rock Island, Scott Counties | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Waste Pros (inside Main at Locust Pharmacy) | 129 W Locust St | Davenport, 52803 | 563-324-1641 | Scott County | No | No |
| Smith Building | 305 Montgomery St | Decorah, 52101 | 563-382-4662 | Winneshiek County | Yes | No |
| Crawford County Transfer Station | 2176 Buffalo Rd | Denison, 51442 | 712-263-8454 | Crawford County | Yes | No |
| Dubuque Regional Collection Center *Appointment Required* | 101 Airborne Rd | Dubuque, 52003 | 563-557-8220 | Dubuque County | Yes | No |
| FMC Landfill *Appointment Required* | 3354 330th St | Elma, 50628 | 877-526-3345 x17 | Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell Counties | Yes | Yes |
| Ely City Hall | 1570 Rowley St | Ely, 52227 | 319-848-4103 | Ely | Yes | Yes |
| Fort Dodge Household Hazardous Materials Collection Center *Appointment Required* | 2151 Gypsum Hollow Rd | Fort Dodge, 50501 | 515-955-2781 x2 | Authorized communites | Yes | Yes |
| Great River Regional Waste Authority | 2092 303rd Ave | Fort Madison, 52627 | 319-372-6140 | Lee County, Rural Henry County, Van Buren County | Yes | Yes |
| Mills County Public Health Department | 403 Railroad Ave | Glenwood, 51534 | 712-527-9699 | Mills County | No | No |
| Metro Waste Authority Northwest Transfer Station *Appointment Required* | 4105 Beisser Dr | Grimes, 50111 | 515-244-0021 | Polk County | Yes | No |
| Grinnell Public Service Department | 1411 1st Ave | Grinnell, 50112 | 641-236-2632 | Grinnell | Yes | No |
| Grundy County Convenience Center | 20434 220th St | Grundy Center, 50638 | 319-824-6967 | Grundy County | No | No |
| Shelby County Transfer Station | 1129 1200th St | Harlan, 51537 | 712-755-5010 | Shelby County | Yes | No |
| Indianola Brush Facility Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event (October 17th Only) | 1800 W Iowa Ave | Indianola, 50125 | 515-961-9415 | Warren County | Yes | No |
| Iowa City Hazardous Material Collection Facility | 3900 Hebl Ave SW | Iowa City, 52240 | 319-356-5185 | Iowa City, Johnson County, Riverside, Kalona | Yes | No |
| Medical Waste Pros (inside Brehme Drug) | 220 E Main St | Manchester, 52057 | 563-927-3509 | Delaware County | No | No |
| Jackson County Transfer Station | 25146 184th St | Maquoketa, 52060 | 563-672-3431 | Jackson County | Yes | No |
| Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency | 1954 County Home Rd | Marion, 52302 | 319-377-5290 | Linn County | Yes | No |
| Marshall County Landfill *Appointment Required* | 2313 Marshalltown Blvd | Marshalltown, 50158 | 641-752-0646 | Marshall County | Yes | No |
| First Congregational United Church of Christ | 121 N Delaware Ave | Mason City, 50401 | 641-421-9309 | Mason City | No | No |
| MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center | 201 8th Ave SE | Oelwein, 50662 | 319-283-6000 | Fayette County | No | No |
| Ottumwa/Wapallo Recycling Center | 2415 Emma St | Ottumwa, 52501 | 641-683-0685 | Davis, Wapallo Counties | Yes | No |
| Dallas County Emergency Medical Services *Appointment Required* | 512 10th St | Perry, 50220 | 515-465-3596 | Dallas County | Yes | No |
| UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's | 2720 Stone Park Blvd | Sioux City, 51104 | 712-279-3184 | Sioux City | No | No |
| Sunnybrook Medical Plaza | 5885 Sunnybrook Dr | Sioux City, 51106 | 712-266-2790 | Sioux City | No | No |
| Spencer Transfer Station | 3101 W 18th St | Spencer, 51301 | 712-580-7270 | Spencer, Unincorporated Clay County | Yes | Yes |
Please note that SafeNeedleDisposal.org is not affiliated with these facilities or programs. Contact the individual facility to confirm hours of operation and requirements.