Northumberland County – Medical Waste Does Not Belong in Curbside Collection
Northumberland County would like to remind residents about safe disposal practices for medical waste. Items such as IV bags and tubing, gauze, latex gloves, syringes and medications/ prescription drugs must be handled properly to avoid the risk of harm to County staff as well as community members.
“We do see hazardous materials coming through our landfill and recycling facilities, which is cause for serious concern,” states Director of Transportation, Waste and Facilities Mobushar Pannu. “Improper disposal of medical waste poses harmful and potentially life-threatening risks to our collection and sorting staff, and also presents a risk to community members, pets and wildlife at curbside.”
Medical waste such as IV bags and sharps can be dangerous if not properly handled. Residents can dispose of these materials by:
· Returning their medications/prescription drugs and medical sharps (placed in an approved sharps container) to their local pharmacy or household hazardous waste depot (placed in a sealed container such as a two-litre pop bottle). Keep sharps separate from medications/ prescription drugs.
· Placing items such as IV tubing, IV bags, gauze and latex gloves in their household garbage — never in the recycling.
To find your local pharmacy and to learn more about return and collection programs, visit www.healthsteward.ca.
To find local household hazardous waste depots and to learn more about proper medical waste disposal, visit www.northumberlandcounty.ca/ medicalwaste.
Photo attached: An example of medical waste disposed of through the recycling system and sorted at the Material Recovery Facility in Grafton.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love