Safe Sharps Disposal Protects Workers

Recycling and waste workers in Nova Scotia can breathe easier now, knowing their chances of getting stuck by a syringe have gone way down. The protection will result from a program, launched today, designed to keep needles and syringes out of recycling and garbage bags.

The Safe Sharps Bring-Back Program, announced at Halifax’s Regional Municipality’s Material Recovery Facility, will provide household users of syringes and needles with a safe means to dispose of their sharps (syringes, needles, pen needles and lancets).

The program, a joint effort of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia, the Canadian Diabetes Association (Nova Scotia Division) and the Department of Environment and Labour, will see pharmacies and Canadian Diabetes Association Supply Centres provide safe sharps containers for free to clients purchasing sharps for use in the home. Sharps users will then return the filled containers to the pharmacies and supply centres for safe disposal.

"It’s up to all of us to recycle and it’s just as important to recycle safely," Environment and Labour Minister David Morse said. “It’s reassuring to know that the risk from needles and syringes will be dramatically reduced.”

Mr. Morse also congratulated the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Diabetes Association (Nova Scotia Division) for their hard work and co-operation in creating the program.

Byron Sarson, president of the pharmacy association, said the program takes a good idea and makes it better. "Some of our pharmacies have been offering this service for many years," Sarson said. "This agreement will strengthen and expand the service to ensure needles and other sharps do not end up in the fingers of waste or recycling workers in Nova Scotia."

Manufacturers of sharps have agreed to assist the pharmacy association in the safe management of sharps designed for home use.

Sandra Backman, Nova Scotia executive director of the Canadian Diabetes Association, says the association is very pleased to be part of this initiative.

“We urge all people with diabetes to participate in this program,” Ms. Backman says.

"This program is simple. You pick up your container at one of our supply centres or at your pharmacy and bring it back there."

Municipalities, whose workers are exposed to used needles and syringes, are pleased to see industry support this initiative.

Ritchie Cotton, representing municipalities, says it doesn’t just protect workers -- it also shows how responsible industries can become part of the solution.

The program has the support of the Office of the Provincial Medical Officer of Health, the Resource Recovery Fund Board, manufacturers of sharps and related products, and the Nova Scotia Association of Waste Reduction Co-ordinators.