LAUREL —
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has recently initiated a new and unique program to reduce the number of home-generated medical sharps thrown in household trash throughout Mississippi.
Numbers show that at least one in ten households have at least one family member that administers injections for self-treatment of medical problems such as diabetes, arthritis, allergies, migraines, HIV and Hepatitis C. Most of these needles, better known as “sharps” are simply disposed of by flushing down the toilet or throwing them in the trash at home, in the workplace, or other public places.
This practice poses a potential risk of needle sticks to garbage collection employees, sewage treatment plant workers, janitors, and in some cases the general public.
Even when a used syringe may be recapped, there is the very real possibility that the cap could fall off before the syringe reaches its final disposal destination.
While throwing syringes in the home trash is not illegal in most states, including Mississippi, there are alternative options for disposal which are safer and provide more protection to public health and welfare.
The amounts of needle sticks that have been reported by waste management employees in Mississippi in recent years are numerous and it is understood that many more needle stick injuries go unreported.
Such injuries cost waste management companies thousands of dollars for medical testing. Even where victims are not infected with potential viruses, they usually undergo tremendous stress and worry.
The program involves the establishment of volunteer sharps collection stations in communities throughout Mississippi where home users of syringes and other medical sharps can drop off their used sharps in puncture-proof containers.
Locations in the City of Laurel have been established at:
• Diket’s Professional Drugs, 1107 Jefferson Street, and
• Wells Pharmacy, 320 Central Avenue.
Puncture-proof containers should be a thick-walled, sturdy plastic container such as one used for bleach, liquid soap, washing detergent, antifreeze, fabric softener, etc. Rinse the container three times to make sure it is free of any residual product before using. Do not use soft plastic such as (milk jugs, juice), glass containers or coffee cans. The container should have a tight fitting screw-type lid which can be used to seal the sharps when full.
Businesses or Establishments interested in becoming a local household sharps collection station is encouraged to contact Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality – Office of Pollution Control at 601-961-5171.
Literature on this subject can be found at www.deq.state.ms.us/medsharps.
Local News
Laurel pharmacies named official MDEQ medical sharps disposal sites
- Local News
-
-
Several injured in separate 84 East wrecks
The jaws of life were used at about 4:55 p.m. Saturday to free victims of a two-vehicle accident on Highway 84 East, the second serious accident in that area in two days.
-
Animal cruelty case under investigation
Officials are continuing to investigate a case where several animals were seized last week from a home in the Beat Four Community of Wayne County.
-
Team work leads to drug arrests
The Laurel Police Department has arrested two Laurel men in connection with drugs this week.
-
Piazza becomes city’s Public Defender
In a special ceremony last week at Laurel City Hall, local attorney John Piazza was sworn in as the City of Laurel Public Defender.
-
Jasper County officials work to make upgrades at fire station, voting precinct
Jasper County officials are continuing to work to make improvements at one of the county’s fire stations and voting precincts.
-
JCJC gets $7K grant for poultry studies
The president of Jones County Junior College made an exciting announcement at the end of the institution’s 7th Annual Economic and Technology Symposium Thursday.
-
Council to discuss pay increase
The Laurel City Council next week will once again consider granting a change concerning the city’s building inspector.
-
Police investigate several burglaries on Euclid Avenue
The Laurel Police Department has taken two people into custody as the police department continues to investigate several burglaries which have occurred in the Euclid Avenue area.
-
Rotarians see huge success
The Laurel Rotary Club saw a great turnout as they sold hundreds of spaghetti plates Saturday during its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser.
-
Agriculture is big business in Miss.
Business and industry leaders, as well as Jones County Junior College students, gathered at Ronald E. Whitehead Advanced Technology Center Thursday for the college’s 7th Annual Economic and Technology Symposium.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
