Sharps

Communities across the nation are learning that improperly disposed of sharps pose a significant harm to waste workers and to others. A growing portion of the population uses needles and other items which are used in injections of medicines and the testing of blood at their homes. It is important that any medical products that come in contact with human fluids be properly disposed of to prevent any other persons from contact with them.

Waste workers are on the front line. They can come in contact with needles in the trash container, at material recovery facilities and in landfills. The nation's attention was riveted on a New Jersey beach years ago when a large quantity of used syringes and similar products were washed up onto beaches. Reportedly, this waste came from ordinary trash that was illegally dumped. Used sharps should be placed into secure containers so that they do not protrude and potentially injure someone. Next year, as a new law goes into effect, residents will no longer be permitted to throw their old needles and other sharps into the trash.

As with other Curbside programs, flexibility is the key to providing the public with a program that meets their needs. Curbside offers an at-home collection of sharps, a mail back option and a drop-off program which utilizes specially designed drop-boxes. One or all three of these options will almost certainly serve the needs of your community.

In all three of the options above, Curbside will accept needles placed inside any type of rigid, sealed container. It is not necessary for participants to use a purpose made sharps container and in most cases they are already using soap bottles or other similar containers. Some programs require drop-boxes to be placed in public places for drug users.

Select the option you wish to read more about:

For more information including availability of the programs in your area, please call 888-449-3733 ex 107 or email sharps@curbsideinc.com