Going Green in Londonderry: Safe Disposal of Medical Sharps Waste

Submission by: Londonderry’s Solid Waste & Environmental Committee

Londonderry’s Department of Public Works & Engineering (DPW) is pleased to offer a new red kiosk at Town Hall exclusively for the safe disposal of medical sharps waste. The kiosk is located on the second floor, just outside the door to the DPW offices, near the elevator. It is available all day and evenings Monday through Friday.

Medical sharps waste is a biomedical waste consisting of any device used to puncture or lacerate the skin. It is biohazardous and must be handled very carefully. It includes the following:

• Hypodermic needles and anything attached to them, such as syringes or other injection devices.

• Disposable scalpels, blades or any other medical items that have been used for puncturing or lacerating the skin.

• All sharp plastic items or glass items, when contaminated with biohazardous material, should be treated with the same concern as needles and blades.

Injuries from medical sharps waste are a serious public health risk to family members, home health providers, and sanitation workers and should not be disposed of in the trash. Medical waste can spread blood-borne pathogens that lead to diseases such as hepatitis, tetanus, and HIV/AIDS. Needle stick injuries cost thousands of dollars in medical testing and cause considerable stress for the injured, even when tests are negative.

Pack your medical sharps waste safely before transporting it to the Town Hall kiosk:

• Drop medical sharps into a thick-walled, sturdy plastic container with a secure fitting screw top, such as an empty detergent bottle. Look for bottles with recycling code #2 for HDPE plastic (high-density polyethylene). Medical sharps should never be pushed or forced into the container, to avoid needlestick injuries.

• Label the container with the words, “Medical Sharps Container, Not for Recycling.” A limited amount of labels are available in the DPW office.

• When half-full, seal the container with heavy duty tape.

• Come to the second floor of Town Hall and place container in the red Medical Sharps kiosk.

Please note: No single loose sharps / needles are permitted in the kiosk. For more information, please call the DPW at 603-432-1100 x193, or email DLimoli@LondonderryNH.org.