How can I safely dispose of used hypodermic needles or sharps?
Hypodermic needles, syringes and lancets are all called “sharps.” Because sharps can transmit bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis B and C, they are potentially biohazardous waste and are an important public health hazard. When a needle is tossed into a household wastebasket, it quite often ends up sticking members of the community, such as sanitation workers, or it may be used for unintended purposes. Even a benign needle stick can trigger costly interventions, including counseling, testing and preventive treatment. For used needles and other sharps, Waste Management offers a specially designed MedWaste TrackerSM System to safely contain, transport and render sharps harmless to the community. Keep your MedWaste Tracker in a safe place so it doesn’t endanger others. In disposing of your sharps, keep the following points in mind: • Do not put used needles in your household waste bin or any other refuse bin. • Never put a used sharp in a container that’s not specifically design
Hypodermic needles, syringes and lancets are all called “sharps.” Because sharps can transmit bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis B and C, they are potentially biohazardous waste and are an important public health hazard. When a needle is tossed into a household wastebasket, it quite often ends up sticking janitorial staff or sanitation workers, or it may be used for unintended purposes. Even a benign needle stick can trigger costly interventions, such as counseling, testing and preventive treatment. For used needles and other sharps, Waste Management offers a specially designed MedWaste TrackerSM System to safely contain, transport and render sharps harmless to the community. Keep your MedWasteTracker in a safe place so it doesn’t endanger others.
