EPA Reviews Sharps Disposal

Rebekah A. Hall

Washington, D.C. – The Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal has been working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to find alternative disposal methods for used needles and other medical sharps, the agency reports.

The Coalition, comprised of medical, government and waste association, and private sector companies, has identified several safe disposal programs for self injectors, which include: drop box or supervised collection sites; mail-back programs; syringe exchange programs; and at-home needle destruction devices.

When not managed properly, discarded needles and other medical waste sharps objects pose health risks to the public and especially waste workers. For more information, call the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal at (800) 643-1643.