Proper Sharps Disposal
Several of you have inquired about the policy for proper Sharps (I will include needles and syringes in the term) disposal and what you should do if you find one. I will address both matters in this blog. If you need additional details at a later date, you can always refer back to the FAQ section as well. I have added the questions there for your reference. They are toward the bottom of the list.
What should I do if I find a Sharps, needle, or syringe?
If you find a Sharps and you are on HOA property (e.g., pool, gym, clubhouse) while an employee is on duty, please take a photo and contact the closest employee immediately. In the event that no one is available or you are located on private or municipal/public property (e.g., yard, sidewalk, playground, street), take a photo and call the police department's non-emergency number. Please email the photo to the crime watch Program Coordinator.
DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING
Please do not ignore it. Do not look the other way. Be a good neighbor. A child could find it. Small children are low to the ground, unbelievably curious, and learn by putting things in their mouths.
If I have my own Sharps, what is the best way to dispose of them?
Safe handling and disposal of used sharps help prevent injuries caused by accidental needlesticks. Unfortunately, many people don’t properly dispose of their used sharps. As a result, other people are injured by used syringes that were carelessly discarded in garbage cans, dropped, or left behind in public places. It’s scary to realize that they have been found in Paloma Creek. We need to be responsible so that there isn’t ever a chance that one of our neighbors or their child might find one again!
We are required to follow the guidelines from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality on appropriate sharps disposal. For safety reasons our trashmen cannot accept any sharps that are not in compliance with their policy which is incorporated with best practices below:
Do not try to recap the syringe.
Find a rigid, thick-walled, sealable plastic or metal container big enough to contain the syringe. You should preferably use a Sharps container; however, you can also use bleach or laundry soap if they are properly marked. Make sure the container is labeled as containing needles, sharps, or syringes.
Use protective gloves if possible.
Bring the container to the syringe. Walking with an uncapped syringe increases your risk of exposure. That is usually how professionals are stuck.
Make sure the container is next to the syringe. Think ahead. You don’t want to end up in one room of your home with an uncapped needle and the Sharps container in another.
Pick up the syringe in the middle of the barrel, never by the needle.
Place the syringe in the container, sharp end first, and let it drop. Never try to hold the container as you place the syringe inside. You could accidentally stick yourself. Do not force it or overfill it.
Remove your gloves and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.
Close it and seal it. Then, Reinforce the lid with heavy-duty tape.
No loose sharps will be collected in trash or recycling.
Needles, sharps, and syringes may be disposed of in your normal trash bin after following the steps above.
NEVER place them in recycling.
There is an infographic here for additional information.
An inexpensive place to purchase Sharps containers is Chewy.
