YORK, PA – With community health, safety, and education among its priorities, the York Opioid Collaborative and the City of York Bureau of Health have launched the first sharps community collection and disposal program in York. Through grant funding awarded by the York-based Memorial Health Fund, a sharps collection kiosk is now hosted by Minnich’s Pharmacy, a hometown staple since 1946 and located at 976 S. George Street in York. There is no cost to use the kiosk, which is similar to the medication disposal kiosks that are fashioned like mailboxes, or pocket-sized sharps collection containers that are also available at Minnich’s.
Many people in York County use sharps as part of their medical regimen; this can include needles, syringes, auto-injectors, and lancets. Recognizing the safe collection and disposal of sharps is key to both human and environmental safety, this pilot project includes a physical location for sharps collection and disposal at Minnich’s, as well as community education for safe at-home packaging and disposal of sharps through residential waste management. This new sharps community collection and disposal program complements other efforts that encourage the safe disposal of medicines – both prescription and over-the-counter, by using medication disposal kiosks and participating in drug take-back events.
“The Memorial Health Fund Board is happy to have supported the York Opioid Collaborative in this effort. Keeping our community safe is important for all of us,” shares Memorial Health Fund Board Chair Michelle Hovis.
The pocket-sized sharps collection containers people can obtain from Minnich’s, take home, and return to the disposal kiosk are available during the pharmacy’s regular hours, Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. This service is free and is not limited to Minnich’s patrons. “We are proud to partner with the York Opioid Collaborative and the York City Bureau of Health to launch this first sharps community collection and disposal program for York County,” says Minnich’s Community Pharmacy Director Scott Miller, R.Ph. “This effort aligns with our pharmacy’s long-standing mission to community service, safety, and education,” Miller continues.
In addition to encouraging the community take advantage of the new sharps collection containers and disposal kiosk at Minnich’s, the York Opioid Collaborative offers important safety guidance about what not to do when disposing of sharps, including:
- Never place any sharps in recycling bins; this poses serious health hazards to recycling facility workers.
- Never place loose sharps in the regular trash to avoid stick-type injuries to others.
- Never toss used sharps into the toilet; this can clog pipes and harm workers and equipment at wastewater treatment facilities.
- Never use common water bottles to dispose of used sharps; they are not rigid or hard enough for safe disposal.
- Never reuse or share sharps to avoid contamination and spread of disease.
Learn more about how to dispose of sharps safely at home by watching www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlsJyxozV5Q.
A Spanish version of this video also is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0U0e0nvkhA.
