Florida Statute Section 381.0038 (the Infectious Disease Elimination Act, IDEA) authorizes county-approved syringe services programs statewide since 2019. Orange County has not adopted a formal SSP, so needle exchange operates only through approved partners.
Originally a Miami-Dade pilot, the IDEA Act expanded statewide in 2019 allowing each county commission to authorize sterile syringe exchange programs run by hospitals, health departments, or substance-abuse providers. Used syringes must be disposed of in puncture-resistant containers and treated as biomedical waste under Chapter 64E-16, Florida Administrative Code. Orange County has not formally adopted an SSP ordinance as of 2026. Sharps from Orlando residents can be dropped at participating pharmacies and the Orange County Solid Waste Household Hazardous Waste facility. Improper disposal of needles in regular trash or public spaces remains illegal under FL biomedical waste rules.
Discarding used syringes in regular trash, recycling bins, or public spaces violates FL biomedical waste rules and can trigger fines from Florida Department of Health and local code enforcement.
See how Orlando's syringe disposal rules stack up against other locations.
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