Residents urged to safely dispose of medical sharps
By Jorell Tucker
Needles and syringes should be separated from other trash and kept out of recycling. Health officials and sanitation workers are reminding residents to separate used medical needles, syringes or other sharp objects from their regular garbage and not to dispose of such objects in curbside recycling.
Instead of placing sharps with household trash or recycling, residents are asked to use one of these two alternative disposal methods:
- Place used needles, syringes, lancets in an approved sharps container (from a pharmacist, health care provider or medical supply store). The container should be puncture-proof with a tight-fitting lid. Then bring to the local Solid Waste Facility at 701 South Line Street in Columbia City. Or…
- Place these sharp objects into a heavy plastic or metal container such as a coffee can or liquid detergent bottle, sealed with tape and clearly marked as “Sharps.” Place this container out for pickup with other garbage.
Please, do not place these containers in recycling bins or with recyclables. These items are garbage only. Proper disposal is a must and will be properly disposed of at the local solid waste facility if you do not have regular garbage pickup.
Many people use needles and syringes for home medical care, but if these objects are not properly disposed of, they pose a grave health risk to anyone who encounters them. Used needles can transmit infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.
Workers at local solid waste collection facilities have seen a marked increase in the number of medical sharps found in curbside recycling in recent weeks and one employee was recently the victim of a needle stick.
Again, separate medical sharps from regular trash and never dispose of sharps in your curbside recycling.
Any further questions may be directed to the Whitley County Solid Waste Management District office at 248-3132 or the Whitley County Health Department office at 248-3121.