Problem
This year alone, approximately 8 million syringe users will administer 2 - 3 billion injections outside traditional health care facilities. Two-thirds of these "at-home" injectors are people with diabetes and patients receiving home health treatment (i.e. allergies, infertility, multiple sclerosis, even veterinary care). Many of these self injectors are unaware of safe disposal methods available to them and simply throw their used needles in the trash or flush them down the toilet, posing a risk of injury or potential infection from diseases such as Hepatitis B or C and HIV to anyone that encounters them. Despite this growing problem associated with improper disposal, there is no consistent information, regulations or guidelines for safe disposal.
Solution
With the growing practice of home health care and a predicted 165% increase in Americans diagnosed with diabetes over the next 50 years, the problem of home-generated used needles will only get worse if it is not addressed. Solutions are available that meet both individual and community needs. Listed below are different types of disposal programs that may or may not be available in your community.
Drop-off collection sites:
Some communities offer residents collection sites that accept used needles - many times for free. These collection sites may be at local hospitals, doctors' offices, health clinics, pharmacies, health departments, community organizations, police and fire departments and medical waste facilities.
Household hazardous waste services:
Most communities have a disposal site already set up that accepts household hazardous waste items such as used oil, batteries, paint, etc. Contact your local waste department to see if your community household hazardous waste site accepts used needles.
Residential special waste pickup services:
Some communities offer residents a special waste pickup service. When a resident has a full sharps container, these programs may ask residents to call for a pickup or offer residents a regular scheduled pickup.
Mail-back programs:
Individuals buy this program complete with sharps container and mail-back packaging. The individual fills the sharp container with used needles and mails it back in the shipping package that is provided by the manufacturer.
Syringe Exchange Programs:
Some communities offer programs that allow individuals to exchange used needles for new needles. To find out if your community offers a syringe exchange program call North American Syringe Exchange Network at (253) 272-4857 or online at www.nasen.org.
Home needle destruction devices:
Several manufacturers offer products for sale that destroy needles at home by burning, melting or severing the needle - making it ok to throw the syringe in the garbage. Prices vary depending on the product.
INFORMATION
Mission
The Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal is a collaboration of businesses, community groups, non-profit and government organizations that promotes public awareness and solutions for safe disposal of needles, syringes and other sharps in the community.
Making A Difference
The Coalition encourages organizations and state leaders to convene state and local governments, the solid waste industry, syringe and pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacies and pharmaceutical distributors, health associations, and other interested parties to review and improve the current options for safe disposal of used sharps generated in the community by patients and injection drug users (IDUs) and to plan public education efforts on safe disposal. These reviews could include:
- estimating the incidence, outside of health care facilities, of needle stick injuries to workers and the public;
- determining the current practices, outside of health care settings, for disposal of used syringes and other sharps generated by patients and IDUs;
- describing existing community sharps disposal programs and their potential for expansion and/or modification;
- examining local and state regulations and legislation to determine if amendments will improve safe community disposal of used syringes and other sharps;
- making recommendations about community syringe disposal programs for the state or community;
- implementing a program based on recommendations.
Support
Advisory council members include: American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, American Pharmaceutical Association, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Association for Home Care and Hospice, National Recycling Coalition, National Solid Wastes Management Association, and U.S. Conference of Mayors. Start-up funding was provided by The Waste Management Charitable Foundation, Inc., and Becton Dickinson and Co.
From the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal
undated webpage
http://www.safeneedledisposal.org/information.pdf
[PDF file]
Reproduced with permission.
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