City reminds area of proper needle disposal

2004-11-01
(CORNING)—Public works officials are urging residents not to throw used medical needles in the trash.

Two city garbage crew workers have been poked by old medical needles while picking up residents trash in the past few weeks, said Richard Biggio, city superintendent of public works.

"It's a problem that we want residents to know about," Biggio said. "It a serious problem. No one wants to be pricked by a used needle. It's a risk we want to eliminate."

The needles pose a threat of injury and infection, said City Manager Mark Ryck-man. But despite the growing problems associated with the improper disposal of medical needles outside of health care facilities, there are no consistent regulations or guidelines for their safe disposal.

Current Environmental Protection Agency guidelines suggest disposing all needles in a household plastic container or coffee can, secure the lid and write do not recycle on the outside and deposit in household trash.

Unfortunately that method does not take the needle out of the waste stream, it simply ends up in the general household trash putting neighbors, children and waste workers at risk of needle stick injuries.

Public works officials suggest residents take used needles to a medical office drop box, enter a syringe exchange program or purchase an at-home needle destruction device.

SOURCE: The Leader Online