Needles and syringes

The City of Armadale has disposal units located around the City where needles and syringes can be correctly disposed of. Occasionally, these syringes may be incorrectly disposed of and end up in our public spaces and places. Incorrectly disposed syringes have the potential to cause harm to individuals, though the risk of contracting HIV or other infections from an injury caused by a discarded needle is very low. 

If you find a discarded used needle or syringe, please contact the City’s Customer Service team on 08 9394 5000 or email info@armadale.wa.gov.au. Your request will be allocated to the Health Services team and an officer will remove the needle and/or syringe.

You can also remove the needle or syringe yourself by following the steps below.

1. Remain calm, do not be alarmed.
2. Get a rigid-walled, puncture resistant, clear plastic container with a screw top lid. Avoid using glass, aluminium or frosted plastic containers – these materials can shatter, be squashed or may not be puncture resistant.
3. Place the container on the ground beside the needle. 
4. Using gloves, pick up the needle from the blunt end – do not touch the sharp point.
5. Do not try to re-cap the needle.
6. Put the needle, point first, into the container. Do not hold the container as you place the needle in.
7. Tightly seal the container.
8. Put the container in a domestic rubbish bin (not the recycling or green waste bin).

For more information on disposal of needles and syringes, please visit the Healthy WA website here. 

For information on current needle and syringe programs in WA, please visit the Healthy WA website here.