Used needles left in public and private places are both a nuisance and potential safety concern. Whether they're used to inject medicines like insulin or for illegal drugs, needles can spread blood-borne pathogens through accidental needle pokes. While the risk of contracting a disease from a needle-stick injury is very low, there are ways to further reduce that risk.
If you want to dispose of the needle yourself, you can do so safely using household items or with a free cleanup kit (watch a short video with safety tips and download a how-to guide (PDF)). Kits are available through a partnership with the Snohomish Health District and have everything you need to safely pick up and dispose of syringes. Request yours by contacting the Snohomish Health District or the City of Everett.
If you are not comfortable handling the needle yourself or if it is in an unsafe or difficult-to-reach location, call the 911 dispatch center's non-emergency number at 425-407-3999 and an officer will respond as time and call load allow.
Visit Snohomish Overdose for more information on opioids in Snohomish County and to find resources.
Want to plan a larger community cleanup?
Many community members have shown interest in volunteering to help clean up public and private properties throughout Everett. To plan a larger cleanup in your community, find some friends, neighbors or family members and follow these guidelines to get started:
Ask the property owner(s) for permission before starting your cleanup. If on public property, contact Everett Public Works or Everett Parks.
If you come across a homeless encampment, do not enter the area. Report encampments at 425-257-8756, online or by calling the dispatch center's non-emergency number, 425-407-3999. In the event of an emergency or if you believe a crime has been committed, call 911.
Contact your local neighborhood association to learn about and join other groups who are already volunteering.
If children are involved in community cleanup efforts, please teach your children to never pick up a needle found on the ground and report it to a trusted adult.