Fire Department

SHARPS

What to do if you find a needle or syringe lying on the ground in public:

If you do not feel safe picking them up:

Call the SHARPS HOTLINE at 218-730-4001.  Calls will be answered 24/7, and a volunteer will respond to the location.

If you do feel comfortable picking them up here are a few precautions to take:

• Wear gloves
  • If gloves are not available, use another type of barrier to prevent the skin from touching the needle.
• Carefully pick up the sharp from the safe plunger end. Make sure to avoid the needle end at all times.
• Select a rigid plastic container with a screw-on lid to put the needle in. Laundry detergent jugs work best, but a pop bottle or milk jug will work, too.
• After putting the needle into the container, secure the lid so that it’s safe for transporting.
• Wash hands with warm soapy water immediately after disposal.

Needles cannot be disposed of in the regular garbage, so please drop sharps containers off at one of the following locations:

• Rural AIDs Action Network, 31 W 1st St., Duluth, MN 55802. Business Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste Drive-Through, 2626 Courtland Street, Gate 9, Duluth, MN 55806. Business Hours: Thursday-Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

ADOPT-A-BLOCK

The City of Duluth Adopt–A–Block program allows citizens of Duluth to participate in keeping their neighborhoods clean, safe and welcoming to all. This program encourages the public involvement of businesses, individuals and other groups to adopt a section of their neighborhood for litter control.

Eligible neighborhoods include:

• Hillside

• Lincoln Park

• Spirit Valley

When you Adopt-A-Block, you agree to host a minimum of four litter pick-ups a year. Clean-up materials, biohazard training and trash pick-up is provided to registered Block Captains.

Get started by filling out the Adopt-A-Block Interest Form. Questions? Email Emma Springer at espringer@duluthmn.gov.