Proper disposal of contaminated waste such as needles, syringes and lancets, all referred to as sharps, is important. Beginning July 1, 2012, it will be illegal to dispose of any sharps in Massachusetts landfills. This means you can no longer throw out sharps in your household trash. The Town of Amherst Health Department and the Department of Public Works sponsors a Safe Needle Disposal Program for Amherst, Pelham and Shutesbury. Residents of these communities who use syringes to manage their health care at home may purchase sharps containers at the Amherst Health Department or the Amherst Transfer Station; currently, one-quart containers are available for $2.00 each. Residents can then return the full container to the Health Department or to the Transfer Station for disposal.


Amherst Health Department                        or                  Amherst Transfer Station
Bangs Community Center - 1st Floor                                   740 Belchertown Road
70 Boltwood Walk                                                              Amherst, MA
Amherst, MA                                                                     Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Monday - Friday                                                                 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Can other containers used for storing sharps be dropped-off at the disposal locations?" is a frequently asked question. If the sharps are stored in a rigid, leak proof and puncture resistant container, they may be disposed of at the Amherst Health Department or the Amherst Transfer Station. Please be sure to seal the container tightly with heavy tape. A fee will be charged to cover the cost of the biomedical waste disposal. The fee, generally between $2.00 and $10.00, will be determined by the size of the container.