Inappropriately Disposed Needles and Syringes

Inappropriate disposal of community sharps may place employees and community members at risk of obtaining a needle stick injury. A needle stick injury may potentially place a person at risk of acquiring a blood borne virus, including HIV and hepatitis C, and may have a significant emotional impact on the person concerned.

Please note however, that there has not been a reported case of a member of the public contracting a blood borne virus from a needle stick injury outside of a health care setting in Australia.

If you find a needle or syringe in you community you should:

• Avoid touching or picking up the needle or syringe.
• Be aware of other sharps in the vicinity.
• Contact your local council office and report it. Most local councils around Tasmania will offer a free service to retrieve and dispose of community sharps.

Remain at, or close to, the location until the sharps collection officer collects the sharps. If this is not possible accurately describe and mark the location of the discarded equipment for easy identification and disposal.

Remember that sharps are hazardous waste and must be disposed of according to the HIV Preventative Measures Act 1993

If you need to dispose of sharps yourself remember:

• Never try to replace the cap on the needle/syringe
• Do not touch the sharp end of the needle
• Never try to bend or break the needle
• Obtain a suitable container to place the sharps in (such as a sharps disposal container, plastic drink bottle, lunch box or tin - remember it must be puncture resistant, have rigid walls and be securely closed)
• Use gloves if possible
• Place container next to the discarded needle or syringe and pick up by the blunt end (away from the sharp point). Use tongs if possible.
• Place the needle/syringe into the container sharp end first.
• Seal the lid and either return to any of the disposal sites

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