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Park Rapids Today
By the People, for the People
Proper Disposal of Used Needles Urged in Hubbard County
Hubbard County Solid Waste Department provides guidance on safely disposing of sharps from GLP-1 medications
Published on Feb. 24, 2026
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The Hubbard County Solid Waste Department is advising residents on the proper disposal of used needles, syringes, and other sharps from GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. The department recommends using sharps disposal containers, destruction devices, or mail-back programs to prevent injury and disease transmission, rather than throwing them away with regular household trash.
Why it matters
The rise in use of GLP-1 medications has led to an increase in used needles that need to be disposed of safely. Improper disposal can pose a risk to sanitation workers and the community, so the county is providing guidance to residents on the approved methods for getting rid of sharps.
The details
According to the Hubbard County Solid Waste Department, used needles, pens, syringes, and lancets should not be thrown away with regular household trash. Instead, they should be placed in an FDA-approved sharps disposal container, destroyed at home with a special device, or mailed back to a disposal service. The county will accept properly sealed and labeled sharps containers at their transfer stations, but they are only licensed to collect from residents, not businesses.
- The Hubbard County Solid Waste Department is providing this guidance in 2026 in response to the growing use of GLP-1 medications.
The players
Hubbard County Solid Waste Department
The department responsible for waste management and disposal in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
Josh Holte
The Hubbard County Solid Waste Administrator who provided information on the proper disposal of sharps.
What they’re saying
“Our attendants will accept sharps in properly labeled containers, and we will get them loaded with our material solid waste (MSW) safely to protect our staff and Polk County staff once it gets to the MSW facilities.”
— Josh Holte, Hubbard County Solid Waste Administrator (parkrapidsenterprise.com)
“It's important that these properly sealed and labeled containers are either hand-delivered to an attendant or residents could place them on the carts in our household hazardous waste drop-off areas.”
— Josh Holte, Hubbard County Solid Waste Administrator (parkrapidsenterprise.com)
What’s next
The Hubbard County Sheriff's Office also accepts unused prescriptions and old medicines at a drop box in their lobby, which is open 24 hours a day.
The takeaway
With the growing use of GLP-1 medications, it's crucial for Hubbard County residents to properly dispose of used needles and sharps to protect sanitation workers and the community. The county provides several safe disposal options, including sharps containers, destruction devices, and mail-back programs, to ensure these items are handled responsibly.
