Bernalillo County is seeking volunteers to assist in safely picking up and disposing of syringes and needles at community events around the Albuquerque metro area.
The Bernalillo County Health Equity Council and the Department of Behavioral Health Services joined forces to collect and properly dispose of used syringes and needles.
Syringes and needles, known as sharps, are used for medical treatments and can be linked to illicit drug use. Over the past year, the county said volunteers collected more than 1,000 sharps for safe disposal.
Go to the Behavioral Health Services website for all needle pickup events and to get details on how to properly dispose of needles and syringes. To report large amounts of discarded sharps, call 505-468-1555.
Here is a list of upcoming pickup events:
April 10, 1-4 p.m.
Estancia Dr. NW and Central Ave NW
May 22, 1-4 p.m.
Iron Ave. SW and 1st St. NW
June 12, 1-4 p.m.
Central Ave. SE and San Pedro Dr. NE
July 3, 9 a.m. – noon
Walgreens, 101 Coors Blvd. NW
Aug. 7, 9 a.m. – noon
1st St. NW and Rosemont Ave. NW
Sept. 4, 9 a.m. – noon
Central Ave. SE and Wyoming Blvd. SE
Oct. 9, 9 a.m. – noon
International District Library, 7601 Central Ave. NE
Nov. 6, 9 a.m. – noon
Juan Tabo Blvd. NE and Central Ave. NE
Dec. 18, 1-4 p.m.
Iron Ave. SW and 1st St. SW