Why Are Syringe Disposal Programs Needed?
With the advent of AIDS, used syringes discovered on the streets and in parks have created a high level of public concern. Several instances in the late 1980s of medical waste, including syringes, washing up on the beaches of New York focused intense attention on the need to regulate and improve the safe disposal of used syringes and other “sharps” to prevent both needlestick injuries and the possible transmission of blood-borne diseases, such as HIV and viral hepatitis. Federal, state, and local agencies have taken some steps to address this problem by passing laws and regulations controlling syringe and other hazardous waste disposal in health care settings. Although needle stick injuries are occupational risks for sanitation, housekeeping, and janitorial workers, the risk of acquiring HIV infection from an accidental needle stick in the community is extremely low. The risk of acquiring hepatitis B and/or C is probably higher. Despite this low absolute risk, the sheer volume of syrin
