Needle stick injuries are a preventable health risk, and the city is taking the following actions to protect city employees from this risk. We ask for your cooperation in this education program.

When disposing of used syringes and other sharps, city residents may use any of these options recommended by the EPA.www.epa.gov/epaoswer/medical/disposal/node/147 and www.epa.gov/epasower/othermedical/med-govt.pdf

1. Use a home needle destruction device that clips, melts or burns the needle and allows the resident to throw the syringe or plunger in the garbage without the risk to the collection crews. These are available for purchase at your pharmacy.

2. Use a sharps collection container purchased at your pharmacy. It may be placed in the refuse collection or some sharps containers have a mail back label.

3. Place all sharps, lancets, and syringes in a stiff plastic container such as a bleach bottle, seal the lid, mark the container as sharps and place in the garbage NOT recycling.

We ask your cooperation in keeping the city crews safe by using one of the disposal options listed.