Medical sharps, such as needles and syringes, are convenient devices used by millions to safely self-inject medications outside of health-care settings, often to treat conditions like diabetes. More than 100,000 residents in Oklahoma are prescribed self-injecting medications, generating as many as 60 million needles per year. When needles are flushed or trashed, they pose grave health and safety risks to residents, sanitation workers, sewage treatment plant operators, waste management personnel, and hospitality workers.
Medical Sharps Disposal Programs
In 2022, The Choctaw Nation, Indian Health Services, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Perkins Family Clinic, and Covanta Environmental Solutions partnered with the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), a policy advocate and consulting nonprofit that pioneered product stewardship in the United States, to expand sharps take-back infrastructure in Oklahoma. Since the program launched in 2022, it has achieved the following results:
- Established 10 new sharps disposal sites with permanent collection kiosks;
- Distributed over 1,600 sharps collection containers to clinics to distribute to patients for in-home use; and
- Provided clinics with materials to educate patients on proper medical sharp disposal.
“In addition to the public health and environmental risks, medical sharps that are thrown in the trash can pose a safety hazard to sanitation workers,” said Patrick Riley, environmental programs manager for solid waste and sustainability at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). “We know that safe collection sites are needed, and this program will demonstrate exactly how they can be operated.”
“Being able to offer several safe ways for our patients to dispose of sharps is vital to the public health of our reservation,” says Justin Wilcox, Choctaw Nation pharmacist. “The program enhances the already existing programs so patients have several ways they can protect our community.”