Community Sharps Management Project
The aim of the Community Sharps Management Project is to provide a collaborative and best practice approach to sharps management within the NetWaste region. The objectives of the Project are to:
- Provide safe disposal facilities for community sharps
- Reduce inappropriate disposal of needles and syringes in public areas
- Reduce the risk of needlestick injury for Council employees and contractors
- Reduce the risk of needlestick injury to the public
- Reduce the amount of needles and syringes entering municipal waste and recycling services
The NSW Department of Health committed $40,000 to this project. Funding assisted with the provision of sharp disposal facilities for 14 NetWaste Councils and 9 pharmacies within the region. Disposal facilities ranged from toilet cubicle units, to public place bins. Councils were also offered a free collection for the first 12-months of the project.
Community education on the safe disposal of sharps at home and in public areas was also conducted, through TV commercials and radio announcements. Supporting items, such as brochures and posters, were also provided to Councils to distribute within their communities.
For further information on this project, please contact:
NetWaste Projects Co-ordinator
Ph + 61 2 6393 8770
