From the end of May 2026, School Lane Surgery will no longer be able to accept used sharps bins dropped off at the Surgery or the Healthy Living Centre. The collection and disposal of used sharps bins from patients’ homes is the legal responsibility of the local District Council. For our patients, that is Breckland Council.
We appreciate that this is short notice; we were only informed of this change at the end of last week. We want to make this transition as straightforward as possible for you, so we have put together the following FAQs to help.
How do I get my used sharps bin collected?
Breckland Council arranges free home collections of used sharps bins. You can request a collection in two ways:
- By phone: Call Breckland Council directly to arrange a home collection.
- Online: Use the “Contact Us” form on the Breckland Council website. Please note: the sharps-specific order form on their website is currently being updated and may not work correctly, so please use the general contact form for now.
Some local pharmacies also accept sharps bins, though at the time of writing none of the participating pharmacies are located in Thetford.
Can I still get a new (empty) sharps bin from the surgery?
Yes. If you need a new sharps bin and we prescribed the medication that generates the sharp (for example, insulin or weight management injections), we can prescribe one for you.
If your medication was prescribed elsewhere, for example, by a hospital or specialist weight management service you should be able to obtain a bin through them.
Breckland Council can also supply bins directly.
Please do speak to us if you are unsure. It is important that everyone using sharps has a safe bin to dispose of them in, and we will always do our best to help.
Can I put my sharps in my normal household bin?
No. Please never put sharps in your household rubbish or recycling. Used needles and lancets must always be placed in an approved sharps bin. This protects refuse workers, your family and the wider community from injury and infection risk.
What if I use a purple-lidded sharps bin?
Purple-lidded bins are used for a specific category of waste known as cytotoxic or cytostatic waste, which can include medications such as chemotherapy or certain hormone treatments. These bins will also be collected by Breckland Council. To arrange a home collection, please use their general “Contact Us” form or call them directly.
What if I am struggling to arrange a collection?
Please do not leave your sharps bin unattended or dispose of it unsafely. If you are having difficulty arranging a collection, please contact Breckland Council in the first instance and ask them to escalate your request. We will always try to assist and point you in the right direction, though unfortunately we are unable to accept full sharps bins at the surgery.
The Breckland Council website says that new customers should get a sharps box through their GP. So… do I get it from School Lane or the Council?
We are aware that the Breckland Council website has not yet been updated to reflect this change, and we appreciate this is confusing. The ICB is working with Norfolk County Council and District Councils to get this information corrected. In the meantime, please contact Breckland Council directly either by phone or via their online “Contact Us” form to arrange collection or to request a replacement sharps bin.
In Summary
We can still prescribe new sharps bins for patients who need them. From the end of May 2026, used bins must be arranged for collection by Breckland Council and should not be brought to the Surgery.
This change is part of a countywide review of clinical waste collection. We understand it may not yet have reached all patients, and we are sorry for the short notice. The ICB is in contact with Norfolk County Council and District Councils to ensure patients are made aware as quickly and widely as possible.
If you have a used sharps bin at home, please contact Breckland Council as soon as possible to arrange your free home collection.
Breckland Council links:
Sharps collection: https://www.breckland.gov.uk/clinical-sharps-collection
General Enquiry Form: https://www.breckland.gov.uk/GEform