Multnomah County operates a syringe service program and free residential sharps disposal. Used needles must be in rigid containers; loose sharps in regular trash or recycling violate ORS 459 solid waste rules and county health code.
Outside In, Cascadia, and the Multnomah County Harm Reduction program distribute and collect syringes one-for-one across Portland. Households can drop sealed sharps containers free at six county sites including the East and Mid-County Health Centers. State law (ORS 459) classifies loose syringes as biohazard waste; placing them loose in curbside trash exposes haulers to needlestick injury and is illegal. Pharmacies sell approved containers for under five dollars. Businesses generating regulated medical waste must contract with a licensed hauler. Encampment cleanups follow OSHA bloodborne pathogen protocols.
Discarding loose syringes in regular trash, recycling, or public spaces is a Class A misdemeanor under ORS 459.205, plus civil penalties from county health code, with fines up to one thousand dollars.
Portland, OR
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See how Portland's syringe disposal rules stack up against other locations.
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