Columbia County

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News Release

Columbia County Offers Free Sharps Disposal Program For Residents - 04/20/26

ST. HELENS, Ore., Apr. 20, 2026 — Columbia County is reminding residents to properly dispose of medical sharps following an increase in reports of needles and other materials being improperly discarded in roadways and waterways.
 
Improper disposal of sharps—such as needles, syringes, lancets, and auto-injectors—can pose serious risks to people, pets, waste workers, and the environment. Recent reports of sharps found in roadways and waterways have increased those concerns across the community.
 
“Proper sharps disposal helps protect our residents, waste workers, and natural resources,” said Tatum Flowers, Solid Waste Coordinator for Columbia County. “When sharps are thrown away improperly, they can cause injuries and create risks for waste workers and others who may come into contact with them.”
 
Columbia County has supported a free sharps disposal program for residents for more than 10 years. Through this program, residents can:
 
  • Pick up a red sharps container at participating locations
  • Safely store used sharps at home
  • Return the container when it is approximately three-quarters full
  • Receive a new container at no cost
 
Sharps containers are available at local fire stations throughout Columbia County—including Clatskanie, Rainier, Scappoose, Vernonia, and Mist-Birkenfeld—and at the Columbia County Transfer Station during regular business hours.
 
Residents who use medical sharps are encouraged to take advantage of the County’s free program to safely dispose of these materials.
 
In Oregon, it is illegal to dispose of sharps in household garbage or recycling. State law requires sharps to be placed in puncture-resistant containers and sealed for safe handling and disposal.
 
For more information about the medical sharps program and disposal locations, visit: http://www.columbiacountyor.gov/medical-sharps.
 
ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY’S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM
Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657-square-mile area. The County also operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers solid waste collection services and events across its unincorporated areas.
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Columbia County Offers Free Sharps Disposal Program For Residents - 04/20/26

ST. HELENS, Ore., Apr. 20, 2026 — Columbia County is reminding residents to properly dispose of medical sharps following an increase in reports of needles and other materials being improperly discarded in roadways and waterways.
 
Improper disposal of sharps—such as needles, syringes, lancets, and auto-injectors—can pose serious risks to people, pets, waste workers, and the environment. Recent reports of sharps found in roadways and waterways have increased those concerns across the community.
 
“Proper sharps disposal helps protect our residents, waste workers, and natural resources,” said Tatum Flowers, Solid Waste Coordinator for Columbia County. “When sharps are thrown away improperly, they can cause injuries and create risks for waste workers and others who may come into contact with them.”
 
Columbia County has supported a free sharps disposal program for residents for more than 10 years. Through this program, residents can:
 
  • Pick up a red sharps container at participating locations
  • Safely store used sharps at home
  • Return the container when it is approximately three-quarters full
  • Receive a new container at no cost
 
Sharps containers are available at local fire stations throughout Columbia County—including Clatskanie, Rainier, Scappoose, Vernonia, and Mist-Birkenfeld—and at the Columbia County Transfer Station during regular business hours.
 
Residents who use medical sharps are encouraged to take advantage of the County’s free program to safely dispose of these materials.
 
In Oregon, it is illegal to dispose of sharps in household garbage or recycling. State law requires sharps to be placed in puncture-resistant containers and sealed for safe handling and disposal.
 
For more information about the medical sharps program and disposal locations, visit: http://www.columbiacountyor.gov/medical-sharps.
 
ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY’S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM
Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657-square-mile area. The County also operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers solid waste collection services and events across its unincorporated areas.
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