Individuals may dispose of used syringes in the trash
so long as they are placed in a rigid, puncture-resistant container that is
enclosed within another container.
Individuals also may take filled syringe containers
to facilities that have permits to generate, handle, or dispose of large quantities
of biomedical waste.
Identified Community-based Disposal Initiatives
No community disposal initiatives were identified but
this does not mean that no programs operate in the state.
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.”
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality provides
guidance on how individuals can safely dispose of syringes on its Health
Care Waste from the Home website.
The guidance states:
While used needles, syringes, lancets
and other sharp implements may be safely disposed with other solid
wastes from the home, it is important to exercise care in packaging
needles, syringes, and lancets for disposal. The safe packaging of
these wastes may be accomplished very simply in the home.
Use a rigid plastic bottle with a tight
fitting cap, such as an empty laundry detergent or fabric softener
bottle, to store and dispose of sharps.
When the bottle is full, cap it tightly,
and place it with your other solid waste for disposal.
Needles and syringes need not be recapped.
Do not put sharp objects in any container
that will be recycled or returned to a store.
Summary Sets requirements for generators – The law sets requirements
for transporting, storing, treating, and disposing of potentially infectious
biomedical waste generated by large and small health care and medical
facilities as well as households and others who generate small quantities
of biomedical waste.
Permits disposal in the trash –
Household-generated sharps waste may be disposed of in the ordinary
municipal waste system untreated, so long as the waste is securely placed
in a package that will not lose its contents if the original package
is violated (this means placing the sharps container in another rigid
disposable container). No labels or symbols are required on these containers.
Permits individuals to transport biomedical
waste to large-quantity generators – Patients, family members,
and individuals who administer health care services may take filled
sharps containers to an approved large-quantity generator, storage facility,
or treatment facility for disposal.
Law
State of Louisiana Sanitary Code, Chapter XXVII [Management of Refuse, Infectious
Waste, Medical Waste, and Potentially Infectious Biomedical Waste], Sections
27:001 - 029. [Ref 1]
Summary Set limits on acceptance of infectious waste – The regulations
limit infectious waste that can be accepted from hospitals or clinics
at landfills and compost facilties.
Do not address household-generated syringes
– The solid waste regulations do not address syringes from community
sources, such as those used by individuals.
Rule
Solid Waste Regulations, Louisiana Administrative Code Title 33, Part
VII, Chapter 13. [Ref 2]
Summary Federal bloodborne pathogen rule applies – Louisiana
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.
Responsible Agency US Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Regional Office (Responsible for administrative activities in Region 6)
Area Office (Responsible for OSHA compliance in Louisiana)
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 Louisiana’s Laws and Regulations
Community collection sites, such as pharmacies or fire stations, must
comply with state regulations on the proper treatment of potentially
infectious biomedical waste. This includes following proposed guidelines
and obtaining appropriate permits.
Louisiana law allows individuals to transport small
quantities (1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds) of properly packaged used syringes
to an approved storage or treatment facility without having to meet
the requirements of the state’s transportation and treatment regulations.
Individuals, such as home health care providers, who transport potentially
infectious biomedical waste for others must obtain a permit from the
State Health Officer.
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 Louisiana’ Laws and Regulations
Sharps container mailback programs are not addressed by Louisina’s infectious
waste rule. However, sharps container collection programs 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 Louisiana’s Laws and Regulations
Louisiana allows individuals to dispose of used syringes in the trash
so long as they are security packaged. They may also be placed in a
sharps container or other rigid, puncture-resistant container approved
by the State Health Officer. The original container must be placed in
a second rigid container that contains other non-infectious waste.
How
Might Louisiana 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 Louisiana move toward the goal
of “no syringes discarded in the trash or public locations.”
Current
Identified Community Syringe Disposal Programs in Louisiana
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Area
Office
9100 Bluebonnet Center Boulevard
Suite 201
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Telephone: (225) 389-0474
Fax: (225) 389-0463
The materials provided on this web site are for general information purposes only. They do not constitute legal or policy advice or opinion. Access to these materials, their transmission, or receipt is not privileged and does not create any relationship with the provider.
CDC has attempted to make the information in this website accurate. However, CDC makes no guarantees about the accuracy, currency, or completeness of the information provided. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for results obtained from the use of the information. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional should be sought.
This CDC Web site is no longer being reviewed or updated and thus is no longer kept current. This site remains to assist researchers or others needing historical content.
Louisiana's Public Health Laws and Regulations:
Impact on the Safe Disposal of Used Syringes by Individuals in the Community
