Disposal of sharps - important for community safety
4 November 2008
Needles and syringes used by community members are called ‘community sharps’. Disposing of sharps should ideally always be done in special containers at Armidale Health Service or local pharmacies, but never in household rubbish or recycling.
This is the message from Armidale Community Health, which is hoping to raise awareness regarding safe disposal of needles and syringes, following concerns raised by community members.
A spokesperson from the Armidale Community Health Quality Committee, Anthony Jacobs said it’s not only disposal of sharps, but also how to access new injecting equipment which needs to be addressed.
“People use ‘sharps’ for a wide variety of purposes. These include people with insulin dependent diabetes, home dialysis patients, people requiring injectable medications, people using equipment for injecting animals, as well as IV drug users”.
“Recently there have been a number of changes to sharps access and disposal, with the health service, Council and local pharmacies taking a lead role in making it easier for community members to dispose of sharps safely.”
Armidale Dumaresq Council and eight other local councils have successfully applied for a grant from NSW Health to improve the management of community sharps. Mr Jacobs said that Hunter New England Health staff will be working closely with the councils to promote safe disposal across the region.
Mr Jacobs said while most people access their injecting equipment from pharmacies, needles and syringes are also available free from reception staff at Armidale Community Health in five-syringe Fitpacks.
“These Fitpacks can also be purchased from a new vending machine located at Armidale Hospital on the access road to the Emergency Department (off Barney Street). The vending machine may be a more private way for some people to get needles.
“Fitpacks come with an inbuilt disposal unit, to help ensure no-one is accidentally injured by used sharps. Special sharps containers or other puncture resistant plastic containers can also be used to store sharps until they can be taken to a suitable sharps bin.
“Glass containers are not suitable. Once used, the whole needle or syringe should be placed in the sharps container to ensure no-one can be injured. These containers should then be disposed of in the sharps bins.
“There are sharps disposal bins located in most Armidale pharmacies, as well as the reception area of Armidale Community Health, and in the Butler Street Hospital car park. There is also a new sharps bin located next to the vending machine near the Armidale Hospital Emergency Department.
“It is especially important to make sure that community sharps are NEVER put in the recycling. Sharps are not recyclable. Nor should sharps be disposed of in the household rubbish.
“Community safety is our priority and we invite people finding sharps in public places, such as streets, toilets, or parks to call the Needle Clean Up Hotline on 1800 633 353,” he said.
Businesses can also access a private disposal service, Stericorp, at a cost on 0438 472 257.
(HNE-1606)
Contact: Carisa Josephs
Phone: (02) 6767 7135 or 0428 106 183