Daytona Beach, FL Public Health Rules: Syringe Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 78-5(4)
- Sharps in curbside pickup
- Not authorized at all
- Sharps definition source
- F.S. § 381.0098
- Sharps vs. refuse
- Excluded from "refuse" definition, § 78-1
- Owner duty
- Wrap/box before any disposal
Summary
Daytona Beach requires sharps like needles, razor blades and broken glass to be wrapped or boxed before disposal to protect collection crews, and flatly bars putting sharps out for regular curbside pickup at all.
Place sharp materials such as razor blades, broken glass, sharp pieces of metal, light bulbs, or similar material, for collection in a manner that could cause injury to collection personnel. The owner of such materials is responsible for wrapping or boxing these materials so as to minimize potential for such injuries. This section will not be deemed to authorize a person to deposit sharps for collection. Sharps and all other biomedical wastes are excluded from the definition of refuse in this code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 78 | Land Development Code: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
Sec. " The owner of those materials bears the responsibility for wrapping or boxing them to minimize that injury risk. " "Sharps" is a defined term in Sec. 0098, the state's biomedical waste statute, and Sec. 78-1 separately confirms that "[s]harps and all other biomedical wastes are excluded from the definition of refuse in this code," meaning needles and other sharps are not part of what the city's residential refuse or recycling collection is set up to handle at all. Practically, that pushes syringes and other sharps out of the curbside stream entirely and into the state and federal biomedical waste disposal system referenced elsewhere in Sec.
78-5(6) and (7), which require biological, biomedical and hazardous waste to be collected, transported and disposed of in strict compliance with applicable federal and state law rather than through the city refuse contractor. Sec. 78-2 lets the city manager issue written regulations implementing chapter 78, filed with public works and the city clerk, which can supply more specific handling guidance beyond the ordinance text itself.
Violations & Fines
Placing sharps or other cutting hazards out for regular collection, or failing to wrap and box them so as to prevent injury, violates Sec. 78-5(4) and is enforceable under Sec. 78-3, which authorizes the code enforcement board or a special magistrate to act under F.S. ch. 162, plus the citywide Sec. 1-14 penalty of up to $500.00 and/or 60 days imprisonment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put used needles in my regular Daytona Beach trash can for pickup?
What am I supposed to do with sharps like razor blades or broken glass?
Where does the definition of "sharps" in Daytona Beach's code come from?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daytona Beach
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