Note: In partnership with the New Mexico Department of Health, the City of Las Cruces shares this information with residents.
Residents who regularly use syringes to take medications, such as insulin, should be aware the New Mexico Department of Health offers safe disposal of needles and related sharp objects needed to test blood glucose levels.
Used needles, syringes, and “sharps” should be put into thick plastic containers, such as a laundry detergent bottle, if a certified sharps container is not readily available., The cap to the plastic bottle should be taped around the top of the bottle to ensure used syringes are secure and won’t fall out of the plastic container, and the container should be marked with the word SHARPS.
Plastic containers with used syringes, needles, and sharp objects can be taken to the New Mexico Department of Health Office, 1170 N. Solano Drive. A drop box to safely dispose of the sharp objects is at the south end of the NMDOH office near the entrance to the employee parking area.
If the drop box is full or inaccessible, plastic containers with used syringes, needles or other sharp objects can be taken the NMDOH lobby where personnel will accept the plastic containers for proper disposal. Las Cruces hospitals, and most doctor’s offices, do not accept the used sharp objects for disposal.
Syringes, needles, or other sharp objects used to administer insulin or test blood glucose levels for diabetics should never be disposed of in regular trash containers. The South Central Solid Waste Authority urges residents who use syringes or test supplies for diabetes not to dispose of those objects in their solid waste containers.
Las Cruces has a high number of residents who have been diagnosed with diabetes and regularly test blood glucose levels or are taking insulin.
For information, call the New Mexico Department of Health at 575/528-5001.