Have you seen a yellow bin on Bransdon Street near the IGA in Wauchope?
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You might be wondering what it is for.
It's called a Community Sharps Disposal Bin designed for community members to safety dispose of needles syringes, lancets and other health-related sharps from the home.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Group Manager Maria Doherty said the council introduced the bins in Laurieton and Wauchope in 2009 to allow people to dispose of needles and syringes.
Since their installation in 2009, 1700kg of items have been collected at Laurieton and Wauchope combined. This doesn't include sharps collected at other facilities or locations.
Ms Doherty said people rely on using needles and syringes to maintain their own health or that of a family member.
"Injecting equipment is also used by people who inject drugs and for animal healthcare by pet and livestock owners," she said.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council also has community sharps bins at all council waste facilities.
The bins can be used to dispose of needles, syringes, lancets (finger prickers) and similar equipment.
Ms Doherty said those items should be kept separate from other waste because of the possible risk of injury to workers.
"When put in these bins, they pose the risk of injury to waste collection operators, recycling facility operators, landfill staff and the public," she said.
"They should be disposed of correctly by putting into a sealed puncture-resistant plastic container and placed into one of the community sharps bins that are available."
For more information about the safe disposal of community sharps, please visit www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au
