Contact: Kelly Mehring, 262-896-8013
Proper Disposal of Household Medical Sharps Reduce Public Health Risks
WAUKESHA, WI – December is International Sharps Injury Prevention Awareness Month and Waukesha County would like to remind residents to properly dispose of their medical sharps. Wisconsin medical waste rules require safe management and disposal of sharps to prevent accidental needle sticks and other sharps injuries.
“We want to make sure residents understand that improper disposal of medical sharps is illegal and puts curbside collection and recycling facility workers at risk,” said Analiese Smith, Waukesha County Recycling and Solid Waste Supervisor. “Sharps can create a hazardous situation for people who are providing a service to us all.”
Safe Sharps Disposal Options
- Take sharps to a registered collection station. To find a site in Waukesha County go to www.waukeshacounty.gov/recycling and click on Residential Product Disposal, then click the Medical icon.
- Use a “mail-back” sharps program, which can be found by searching the internet. The company should provide containers and packaging which meet U.S. postal regulations.
- Contact your pharmacy, doctor, clinic or local hospital; many health care facilities accept sharps but are not legally required to register, therefore, may not appear on the list of registered sharps collection stations.
More Information About Sharps Disposal
For more information, disposal publications and other locations for safe disposal of medical sharps in Wisconsin visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/HealthWaste/HouseholdSharps.html
