Pharmacies and Community Agencies Can Promote Safe Syringe Disposal

To ensure that used syringes are properly disposed of, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) with support from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) make free sharps containers available to non-prescription syringe purchasers. More than 1,000 pharmacies and nearly 50 community organizations around the state participate in the Sharps Container Program and serve as distribution points for the household sharps containers.

How the Sharps Container Program Works
Pharmacies and community organizations enroll in the program by submitting the registrationmemorandum of understanding below to AFC. Once the forms are recieved, AFC will ship a box of containers and educational materials free of charge to the newly enrolled pharmacy or agency. Pharmacies then offer the sharps containers and pamphlets about sterile syringe access and disposal to all customers purchasing syringes without a prescription. Community organizations are encouraged to provide the containers to any injection drug using clients. Approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for home disposal, full containers should be put in the household trash and not returned to the distributing pharmacy or community agency.

Sharps Container Program Information and Materials

Expand Sterile Syringes and Disposal in Your Community!
AIDS advocates can encourage pharmacies in their area to participate in the Sharps Container Program by bringing them this flyer. Not sure if your neighborhood pharmacy is enrolled? Check out the list to the right! If you have questions about the program, contact Jessica Terlikowski at (312) 922-2322.

Get Sharps Containers Here!
SCP Registered Pharmacies (PDF)
SCP Registered Agencies (PDF)

Research:
Impact of Syringe Access on the AIDS Epidemic (PDF)

Syringe Disposal Educational Cards:
English (PDF)
Español (PDF)