St. Louis County, MN Public Health Rules: Syringe Disposal (2026)

Ordinance No. 45's Article IV definitions section classifies sharps directly: Infectious Waste covers material from the diagnosis, care, or treatment of a person or animal exposed to a contagious or infectious disease, and the definition specifically lists 'infectious sharps and needles' alongside laboratory and pathology waste of an infectious nature. 1 then bars anyone from placing Infectious Waste, as defined by state and federal regulations, in containers set out for Hauler Collection or for Disposal at a Solid Waste Facility alongside Mixed Municipal Solid Waste.

The Ordinance directs that these barred items instead be disposed of through programs administered by the county's Environmental Services Department and in accordance with Minnesota law, rather than through routine curbside pickup. 2 lets the Hauler refuse to collect it and requires the Hauler to notify the occupant of the prohibited material and the reason for non-collection, rather than simply hauling it away. That refusal-and-notice step is the practical enforcement point for most households: a sharps container left at the curb in a trash bag typically comes back with a notice rather than a pickup.