A method and apparatus for sterilizing and destroying a syringe needle includes a rotating needle carriage that receives a needle in a loading position. The needle carriage is rotated downwardly to a cut-off position. At the cut-off position, two opposing contact blades pinch the needle, which electrically connects the positive and negative terminals of a battery. Current flows through the contact blades and the needle, thereby melting the needle. A slight further rotation of the needle carriage causes the contact blades to shear the needle. The sheared portion of the needle then falls into a waste compartment in the bottom of the apparatus. When the syringe is removed from the needle carriage, the needle carriage rotates upwardly and returns to the loading position.