Community Sharps

' Community Sharps' refers to rigid waste materials capable of penetrating the skin that are generated in non-clinical settings. This includes needles, syringes and lancets used by people who self-manage their medical conditions at home, have various blood disorders or other medical conditions that may require self-injection. 'Community Sharps' also include needles and syringes used by injecting drug users.

People who inject licit and illicit substances are often perceived as the main group responsible for the inappropriate disposal of community sharps. While this may be the case for syringe litter in public places, other members of the community generate a large volume of community sharps and may also be disposing of them inappropriately.

Items including lancets, 1ml syringes and insulin pens used by diabetics for insuling treatment contribute to a large proportion of community sharps. A wide range of other conditions may also involve regular self injection including multiple sclerosis, palliative care, chronic pain management, growth disorders, arthritis, epilepsy, allergies and vitamin deficiencies. In addition, there is also the equipment used for injecting pets and livestock in private settings.

Reducing Community Sharps

TasCAHRD's Harm Reduction Program employs a range of strategies designed to reduce the number of sharps present in the community including:

• The provision of sharps disposal facilities and sharps containers through TasCAHRD Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) outlets.
• Community education and training relating to appropriate sharps disposal options and sharps retrieval protocols.
• Advocating for the installation of community sharps disposal units in the broader community.
• The development of sharps disposal information resources for NSP consumers.
• The provision of information relating to legislative requirements concerning appropriate sharps disposal to NSP consumers.

Safe Disposal Options

Generators of community sharps should place them in a syringe disposal unit like those found in some public toilets and NSP outlets or place them into an appropriate container prior to disposal at a community sharps facility.

The HIV/AIDS Preventative Measures Act 1993 outlines the legal requirements that individuals must adhere to when disposing of needles and syringes (see: Syringes and the Law fact sheet)

Section 35 of the Act states:

'A person must dispose of a used syringe or needle by placing the syringe or needle in a container that -

• has rigid walls; and
• is resistant to puncture; and
• is capable of being sealed or securely closed in such a way that it's contents are not capable of causing injury

Glass bottles or jars should not be used due to the risk of breakage.

Community sharps facilities can be found at NSP outlets and pharmacies (identified by the NSP logo - a red and blue arrowed circle). There are also large 24 hour public disposal units in Hobart, Clarence and Devonport.

Fit packs can be legally placed in a rubbish bin (provided the lid is securely closed) but this practice is not recommended as it poses occupational health and safety risks to council workers.

Additional information

For more information contact TasCAHRD on (03) 6234 1242

Or call our Information and Support Line 1800 005 900 or email: nsp@tascahrd.org.au