Do you have used needles, syringes, lancets, or other sharps to throw away? Daviess Community Hospital (DCH) offers a free, anonymous sharps disposal bin that is open 24/7. Located behind the DCH Medical Clinic at 1402 Grand Ave., Washington, IN 47501—near the intersection of NE 15th Street and Grand Avenue—the bin sits in a well-lit, drive-up area so you can drop sharps quickly and leave with confidence.
Improperly discarded sharps can injure family members, sanitation crews, first responders, and children, and they pose serious infection and environmental risks. A dedicated sharps bin:
Washington Mayor David Rhoads underscores its importance:
“We have been collecting sharps for many years. This will allow people to put those discarded sharps into this container and be safe and dispose of them properly. We have seen them disposed of improperly and they get in the trash and wind up on the streets and lay around. This container can play a huge part in keeping the community safe and clean.”
Tip: Transport sharps in a sturdy, puncture-resistant container with a tight lid to reduce risk during the trip.
Please do not place household trash, medications, liquids, batteries, or electronics in the bin.
This program is a collaboration among Daviess Community Hospital, United Way of Daviess County, and nonprofit ShipHappens.
“We have pursued the efforts of having a 24/7 accessibility to dispose of sharp’s needles for two years,” said Zella Taylor, CEO of United Way of Daviess County. “We thank ShipHappens for donating the disposal bin to Daviess County and for the hospital for their commitment in managing the bin and tracking the weight of sharps disposed of.”