Moree Plains Shire Council in New South Wales has installed 11 new disposal bins throughout Moree to safely dispose of community sharps.
Environmental Health Officer Belinda Olsen said access to the free disposal service would benefit many people and at the same time provide a degree of protection to workers and community members.
“The availability of these new disposal facilities and the number of locations around town is an important way to actively encourage both residents and visitors to the community to safely dispose of their community sharps.”
Four 240 litre metal community sharps disposal bins have been installed in areas that are easily accessible, and in places frequented by residents, travellers, and those required to medically self-inject.
Seven smaller disposal bins are currently being installed in known hot spots where high numbers of sharps have been found carelessly disposed.
“Council has installed large and small sharp disposal bins in areas that are accessible and most frequented so that discarding needles and syringes is done in a manner that protects users, workers and community members, particularly children,” said Ms Olsen.
While the risk of acquiring a serious infection as a result of an accidental injury from a community sharp is extremely low, the anxiety resulting from such an injury can be significant.
“We want to keep everyone in our community safe from accidental injury.”
