Dr. Karen Bell

Keep Liberty Beautiful

Ashley Roberts, the program assistant for Keep Liberty Beautiful, received a phone call from a concerned community member wondering what to do with the needles that they use at home. They said they had called around and found no one to take them.

Ashley called hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and drugstores in Liberty County and received the same results. That is why I am writing to tell you what our research has discovered.

Used needles (syringes, lancets, etc.) are considered “sharps.” Proper disposal protects everyone in the community and reduces the risk of injuries or infections, helping residents feel responsible for community safety.

Here are some rules and best practices for the community. Immediately after use, place needles/ sharps into a puncture-resistant, securely sealed container, ideally one made for sharps disposal, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If a commercial sharps container is not available, you may repurpose a heavy-duty plastic household container, such as a laundry detergent bottle or bleach container, that has a tight-fitting lid, is sealed, is puncture-resistant, and is properly labeled. Do not throw loose needles into trash or recycling. Do not flush them down the toilet. When the container is about three-quarters full, secure the lid, reinforce with tape if using a homemade container, label it by writing “Household Sharps – Do Not Recycle”, wrap it in a bag or newspaper, and then place it in your regular trash can.

What should Liberty County residents do if hospitals or drugstores won’t accept needles? To ensure safety, consider using a mail-back program to prevent unsafe disposal at home. When traditional disposal outlets, such as hospitals, pharmacies, and drugstores, are unavailable to accept sharps, you still have several safe, legal, and community-friendly options. According to Liberty County Solid Waste and Hinesville Public Works Department (ESG) Sanitation Services, you can do this:

• Use a sharps container, and then you can throw it in the trash. In Georgia, for home-generated sharps once placed in a properly-sealed container, it is often permissible to dispose of that container in the regular household trash. Please do not try to recycle the container. Make sure the container is puncture-proof, sealed tightly, and labeled.

• Use a mail-back sharps program. If you prefer a safer, more controlled disposal method or want to avoid the risk of sharps entering the regular trash, then you can use a mail-back program.

Specialized services collect sealed sharps containers mailed from private homes and dispose of them properly.

• If you don’t have an FDA-cleared sharps container and can’t get one, a heavy-duty plastic household container, like a laundry or bleach bottle, can be used, as long as it’s puncture-resistant, upright, stable, has a secure, tight-fitting lid, and is clearly labeled as “Do Not Recycle / Household Sharps.” For additional guidance, contact local health departments or waste management services. Once sealed and properly labeled, you may dispose of it in the trash. This option empowers residents to manage sharps disposal safely with available resources.

To get started, you should obtain or create a safe container, ideally a sharps-approved container; if none is available, repurpose a heavy-duty plastic container. After each use, place the needle directly in the container Don’t recap or bend the needle, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. When the container is about three-fourths full, seal it tightly, label it clearly as “Household Sharps — Do Not Recycle,” and tape the lid securely, following the SafeNeedleDisposal.org guidelines. Proper sealing and labeling help prevent accidental injuries during disposal and give residents confidence in their safety practices. Never throw loose needles into trash or recycling, and never flush them. Keep sharps containers out of reach of children and pets, ideally in a secure, designated area in your home. Never attempt to bend, recap, or break needles, as this increases the risk of accidental needle sticks. Clearly label containers to warn anyone handling waste and store them in a safe location until disposal. Proper storage is essential to prevent injuries and ensure community safety.

By disposing of your needles correctly, you help keep our community safe and clean. You can also participate in community cleanup events like Rivers Alive, which promote environmental safety and community involvement. KLB will provide all the cleanup supplies and free T-shirts.

For more information or to get involved with Keep Liberty Beautiful, call (912) 880-4888, email klcb@libertycountyga. gov, or visit our website, www.keeplibertybeautiful. org. As always, together, we can protect our environment, strengthen our community, and Keep Liberty Beautiful!!