“Sharps” include needles, , and For More Information lancets used for checking blood glucose levels. Contact:

People at the greatest risk of suffering a Michigan Department of Environmental needle stick injury include sanitation and Quality, & Hazardous Materials treatment plant workers, janitors, Division, Radiological Protection and housekeepers, and children. Medical Waste Section, Medical Waste Regulatory Program at 517-241-1320 or Sharps are used to treat: 335-1146.

◆Allergies To learn if there is a sharps collection ◆Cancer program in your area, contact the DEQ’s ◆Erectile Dysfunction Environmental Assistance Center at ◆HIV/AIDS 800-662-9278 or visit the Medical Waste ◆Migraines Regulatory Program’s Web site at ◆Osteoporosis www.michigan.gov/deqmedwaste ◆Arthritis ◆Diabetes ◆Hepatitis ◆Infertility ◆Multiple Sclerosis ◆Psoriasis

One out of every 20 people in the United States has diabetes and use an average of Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor two sharps daily. Steven E. Chester, Director

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, national origin, Needle stick injury victims suffer anxiety, color, marital status, disability, or political beliefs. Questions or concerns should be depression, disease monitoring, and directed to the Office of Human Resources, PO Box 30473, Lansing, MI 48909. possible long-term infectious disease Authority: PA 368 of 1978 Total Copies: 5000 Printed treatment. Total Cost: $673.69 Cost Per Copy: $.13 on Recycled Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Paper EQC1748 (rev. 01-2006) disposal. You can also check the Michigan Disposal at (800) 643-1643 or visit the Web site The environment that is . . . Department of Environmental Quality at www.safeneedledisposal.org (MDEQ), Medical Waste Regulatory Program’s Health officials estimate almost 18 million Web site where a list of community service ◆ Purchase a product that allows you to Americans have diabetes. In Michigan, 2002 collection programs is maintained by county. destroy needles at home by burning, melting survey statistics estimated 590,000 adults (age The Web site can be found at or cutting off the needle - making it safe to 18 and over) have diabetes.* Diabetics use www.michigan.gov/deqmedwaste throw in the garbage. You can obtain a list of syringes, needles, and lancets to administer companies that make home needle home health care. In addition, many patients ◆ Identify a pharmacy, physician, dentist destruction devices from the Coalition for Safe with cancer, arthritis, and other chronic veterinarian, health clinic, or a that Community Needle Disposal, phone number diseases generate sharps as a medical waste will accept your sharps and properly dispose and Web site address listed above. with their self-administered home health of them with their sharps. care.

These “sharps,” if not disposed of in puncture- resistant containers, can: NOTICE: Under Michigan’s Medical Waste Regulatory Act, these facilities must ◆ Injure waste haulers. ensure safe disposal of their medical Do not place sharps in a recyclable or ◆ Increase the risk of infection. waste. glass container and send them to a ◆ Pollute our environment. center.

NOTICE: Under Michigan’s littering law, ◆ Contact a medical Do not let small children handle or play with it is illegal for a person to dispose of company and see if they will accept your sharps containers. sharps improperly. sharps waste. A list of collection companies (MCL 324.8905[2]) can be found on the Medical Waste Do not flush needles, syringes, and lancets Regulatory Program’s Web site listed above. down the toilet. Home users who produce medical waste can ◆ Contract with a U.S. Postal Service Do not discard needles or lancets in the hotel, help prevent injury, infection, and pollution approved mail-back service. These airline, or cruise line trash when traveling. by following these simple steps: companies will provide you with containers Ask if a sharps container is available or and directions on packaging your sharps package the used sharps in a puncture ◆ Contact their local health department, waste so they can be returned to the resistant container and bring them home with county waste authority, or household company through the U.S. mail. A list of you for proper disposal. collection program to see if these companies can be obtained from the they will collect sharps for safe and proper Coalition for Safe Community Needle

*Source: Michigan Department of Community Health Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002 data.