Home syringe users are encouraged,
but not required, to segregate and package their biomedical waste
safely.
Sharps collection programs are recognized by Florida’s biomedical
waste law and rules. Several programs may operate under one umbrella
permit. Permit fees have been waived for non-profit programs.
Community sharps collection programs
must meet applicable biomedical waste standards.
Identified Community-based Disposal Initiatives
In May 2005, community sharps collection
programs were operating in at least 34 of Florida’s 67 counties
Disposing of contaminated medical waste, including
needles, syringes, and other “sharps,” has become an important
issue in public health policy. Waste generated in the health care system
is highly regulated at the state and federal level. Hospitals and other
health care facilities must follow special procedures for handling,
transporting, and disposing of medical waste, including used needles
that may contain blood. Facilities also have instituted strict safeguards
to protect health care workers, housekeeping staff, sanitation workers,
and waste haulers from needlesticks because of the risk of contracting
HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other bloodborne infections.
Less attention has been paid to safe disposal of used syringes that
come from individuals living in the community. However, as many as
3 billion syringes are used each year outside health care facilities:
It is estimated that between 0.9 and 1.68 billion insulin injections
and up to 1 billion illegal drug injections occur each year in the
United States. After being used and discarded, most of these syringes
end up in the public solid waste system. This presents a risk of needlestick
injury and infection, mostly to solid waste workers. A much smaller
number are discarded in public areas, such as parks, presenting a risk
to the public.
This section of CDC’s Community Syringe Disposal, Laws and Regulations,
and the Public Health web site looks at the public health dimensions
of this problem. It describes this state’s solid and infectious
waste laws and regulations as they relate to syringe disposal. It provides
background information on several key disposal options currently used
in the U.S. and describes the impact of this state’s laws and
regulations on the way that individuals may use these options. It also
includes brief descriptions of some safe disposal programs in the state
and provides contact information for the state’s public health
and environmental management agencies.
This web site is designed primarily for individuals and communities
who are working to build safe syringe disposal programs and improve
public understanding of this important issue. We hope that the information
and tools provided here will help communities move closer to the ultimate
goal of “no syringes discarded in
the trash or in public locations such as parks, buildings, or the
streets.”
In order to reduce accidental needle sticks, the Florida Department
of Health encourages individuals to find out how their county health
department recommends disposing of used sharps. If you reside in the
State of Florida and there is no sharps disposal program in your county,
the Florida Department of Health recommends that you safely dispose
of your own sharps by following the steps listed below.
Steps for Safe Sharps Removal
Step 1: All sharps should be disposed of in rigid puncture-resistant
containers such as liquid detergent bottles, bleach bottles or metal
containers.
Step 2: Perform your routine blood tests and injections and place
the used sharps into the containers.
Step 3: Containers should be three-quarters full.
Step 4: All containers should have a lid which must be tightly sealed
before it goes into residential garbage. Masking tape can be used to
help secure the lid.
Step 5: Place container in residential
garbage or dispose of it at the county’s landfill.
Step 6: Check with your local waste collection service to make sure
these disposal procedures are accepted in your county.
To Prevent Accidental Needle Sticks
Never throw sharps directly into
the garbage.
Never flush, bury, or burn sharps.
Never use a container that is
not rigid and puncture-resistant.
Never use clear plastic or glass
containers.
Never mix sharps with recyclable
items.
Never leave sharps accessible
to others.
For more information contact:
Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Community Environmental Health/HSEC
4052 Bald Cypress Way
BIN A08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1710
Tel: (850) 245-4277
Summary Establish medical waste generator requirements – The
law and rules establish standards for segregating, containing, treating,
transporting,
and disposing of biomedical waste.
Encourage safe segregation and packaging of home-generated sharps – The
biomedical waste rules encourage, but do not require, home users to
segregate and package their used sharps in a safe manner.
Require sharps collection programs to operate under permit. Fees
are waived for non-profit programs – Sharps-collection
programs with either single of multiple locations may operate under
a single permit,
provided that:
The program is open to the general
public;
A list identifying the location
of each facility is attached to the application; and
Each facility meets the applicable
permit requirements.
Require community sharps collection sites to meet requirements
of the biomedical waste rules – Community sharps collection programs
must meet applicable requirements of the state’s biomedical waste
rules.
Law
Title XXIX [Public Health], Chapter 381, Florida Statutes (F.S.) [Public
Health: General Provisions], Section 381.0098, F.S. [Biomedical Waste]
[Ref 1]
Summary Federal bloodborne pathogen rule applies – Idaho has not established
its own state plan for regulating bloodborne pathogens. Therefore,
the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards
apply.
Sets requirements for collection sites when employees handle the
sharps containers – Operators of sharps container collection
sites in which employees physically accept and handle filled sharps
containers
from customers are required to meet the OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards.
This involves developing a written Exposure Control Plan that identifies
the frequency of exposure and the tasks and procedures in which exposure
may occur. The Plan also must address methods of compliance, hepatitis
B vaccination, hazard communication to employees, recordkeeping, and
methods to evaluate exposure incidents.
Sets requirements for collection sites when employees do not handle
the sharps containers – Operators of sharps container collection
sites in which customers place filled sharps containers into a collection
container are not subject to the bloodborne pathogen standard. In this
situation, employees must not handle the sharps containers. Those involved
with removing the sharps containers from the collection container must
meet the standard.
How This Option Works
An individual brings filled sharps containers to a collection
site such as a pharmacy, medical facility (for example,
a hospital or public health clinic), or non-medical facility
(for example, a fire station) for safe disposal. Other
sites have sharps collection drop boxes (a kiosk, mailbox-type
receptacle, or other secured collection bin). This is
a viable option that can capture many of the syringes
generated in the community. Successful syringe container
collection programs feature:
minimal regulatory constraints placed on collection
sites;
easy access provided
through numerous and well-publicized collection locations;
and
minimal costs to
users through subsidized costs of containers and disposal.
Even if a community does not have collection site programs,
an individual may be able to develop an informal relationship
with a local pharmacy or other facility that will accept
and safely dispose of filled syringe containers.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Sharps container collection programs have two key advantages:
Used syringes are kept
out of the regular solid waste stream, which reduces
the risk of needlestick injuries to waste
and recycling workers (see Disposal
in the Trash for more
information).
Syringes collected
through these programs are disposed of safely as medical
waste. This involves
special disinfection
to destroy germs and destruction or burial to ensure
that the needle points cannot injure anyone.
Facilities and individuals may perceive some disadvantages:
Individuals may
feel that bringing sharps containers to a collection
site is inconvenient and reduces
their privacy
because it identifies them as a syringe user.
Collection sites
may have to comply with state bloodborne pathogen standards
and medical waste disposal
requirements,
and they must carefully maintain the collection
bins or kiosks.
Effect of Florida’s Laws and Regulations
In accordance with Florida’s biomedical waste law and rules,
the Florida Department of Health has developed a simplified biomedical
waste needle collection program permit application and waived the fee
for non-profit needle collection programs to encourage development
of such programs.
Container
Mailback Programs
Background
How This Option Works
Sharps containers are distributed to customers and, when
full, are mailed back to a syringe disposal company for
safe disposal. This is a viable option that can capture
some of the used syringes generated in the community.
Advantages and Disadvantages Syringe mailback programs have the same advantages as
syringe container collection sites:
Used syringes are kept
out of the regular solid waste stream, which reduces
the risk of needlestick injuries to waste
and recycling workers (see Disposal in
the Trash for more
information).
Syringes collected through
these programs are disposed of safely as medical waste.
This involves special disinfection
to destroy germs and destruction or burial to ensure that
the needle points cannot injure anyone.
The cost of mailing the container to the disposal company
varies. The cost may be too high for some individuals,
and may be considered a disadvantage.
Effect of Florida’s Laws and Regulations
Sharps container mailback programs are not addressed specifically by
Florida’s biomedical waste rules, however, they must comply
with all pertinent rules in Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C. Sharps containers
are regulated under the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) when syringes
are mailed [Ref 4]. The USPS regulations establish specific packaging,
labeling, and tracking requirements for these syringes.
Disposal in the
Trash
Background
How This Option Works
Individuals place their used syringes in the household trash,
either loose or in a puncture-resistant container. Some
individuals remove the needle from the syringe and put
it in a container using a special device. The syringe
and contained needle are then disposed of in the household
trash.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The main advantages of this option are convenience and
low cost.
This option has one important disadvantage – it
places people at risk of being stuck by a needle and increases
their chances of contracting a bloodborne infection:
Placing unprotected
syringes into the household trash puts waste collectors
at risk [Ref 5].
Placing used needles
in a puncture-resistant container may help protect
trash collectors from being
stuck. Even
so, most containers disposed of in the trash shatter
in the garbage truck and release their contents.
This places
other waste workers at risk.
Bottles or cans used
as puncture-resistant containers may be recycled by
mistake. This puts waste
recyclers at risk.
Effect of Florida’s Laws and Regulations
The biomedical waste rules encourage, but do not require, home users
to safely segregate and package their used syringes. Although disposal
of used syringes in the trash by a home user is not specifically prohibited
by the rules, the fact that the rules encourage safe disposal may increase
participation in community sharps collection programs.
How
Might Florida Ensure Safe Syringe Disposal by Individuals in the
Community?
The state legislature and individual communities
may wish to more actively encourage individuals to safely dispose of
used syringes and make it easier for them to do so. Many options
for state and local action exist. They range from gathering data,
to developing community collection site programs and education efforts,
to creating
partnerships with interested groups, to considering amending laws and
regulations. All will help Idaho move toward the goal of “no
syringes discarded in the trash or public locations.”
Current
Identified Community Syringe Disposal Programs in Florida
Florida
Department of Health
Bureau of Facility Programs/HSEF Biomedical
Waste
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin - A08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1710
Tel: (850) 245-4277
Fax: (850) 487-0864
Florida
Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Waste Management
Bureau of Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Blairstone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Tel: (850) 488-0300
Fax: (850) 921-8061
US Department of Labor/OSHA
Regional Office for Region 4 (Southeast)
Room 6T50
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Tel: (404) 562-2300
Fax: (404) 562-2295
Area Offices
Fort Lauderdale Area Office
8040 Peters Road, Building H-100
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324
Tel: (954) 424-0242
Fax: (954) 424-3073
Jacksonville Area Office
Ribault Building, Suite 227
1851 Executive Center Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Tel: (904) 232-2895
Fax: (904) 232-1294
Tampa Area Office
5807 Breckenridge Parkway, Suite A
Tampa, FL 33610-4349
Tel: (813) 626-1177
Fax: (813) 626-7015
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Florida Public Health Laws and Regulations: Impact
on the Safe Disposal of Used Syringes by Individuals in the Community
