Clinical waste in New South Wales

NSW Health guidance · councils

“Councils are responsible for managing community sharps waste and sharps litter.” “Councils will determine the range of services required to safely and effectively manage in their area.” They are also responsible, the guidance says, for the workplace and public health risks from community sharps litter left in public places and on council land.

“Council should manage community sharps by:”

• “Coordinating community sharps litter retrieval.”
• “Ensuring there are appropriate disposal bins in community areas including public parks, public bathrooms and carparks.”
• “Contracting authorised waste disposal services to regularly empty disposal bins in community areas including parks and public bathrooms.”
• “Displaying local council contact details for community members to report full, faulty or damaged disposal bins.”
• “Providing information on disposal bins detailing alternative disposal sites in case a disposal bin is full.”
• “Providing training opportunities for all council workers in the handling and disposing of sharps.”
• “Managing and regularly updating a community sharps webpage on a council website detailing where disposal sites are available.”
• “Collecting data on sharps disposed of on council managed land.”
• “Working with Local Health Districts where necessary to develop enhanced community sharps management plans in response to local concerns.”

A selection from section 4.1 of the guidance. The full list is in NSW Health’s Community Sharps Guidance.

NSW Health guidance · Local Health Districts

“Local Health Districts must support councils in the safe disposal of community sharps by:”

• “Providing information on appropriate disposal practices to patients and clients who are generating sharps in their home environment.”
• “Providing information, education and training to community members, workers and non-government organisations on the management and disposal of community sharps.”
• “Providing community sharps disposal services for people who inject drugs at needle and syringe programs, public hospitals, community health centres and other health facilities.”
• “Contracting authorised waste disposal services to regularly empty disposal bins at needle and syringe programs, public hospitals and community health centres.”
• “Responding to NSW Needle Clean Up Hotline calls and responding as necessary.”
• “Providing advice and support to councils and other land holders to manage community sharps that are inappropriately disposed of in public places.”
• “Collecting data on clean ups and monitoring areas with high levels of sharps.”
• “Supporting councils to enhance local sharps management plans.”

The full list from section 4.2 of the guidance, in its order. The guidance is NSW Health’s Community Sharps Guidance.

NSW Health guidance · local businesses

“Local businesses, including veterinary clinics, pharmacies, skin penetration premises, hair salons and other cosmetic clinics are responsible for disposing of their own sharps through appropriate commercial waste contractors.” “Local businesses are not to dispose of sharps produced within the business in community sharps bins.” “Commercial premises that generate sharps are responsible for ensuring they are disposed of appropriately. This includes having an agreement in place with a waste disposal contractor for the regular disposal of sharps.”

NSW Health guidance · pharmacies

“Pharmacies that participate in the Needle and Syringe Program and/or provide medical sharps are responsible for managing community sharps on their premises.” Many pharmacies take part in the NSW Needle and Syringe Program, and those that do provide sharps bins for its clients. “Pharmacies can also sell personal use sharps containers to all members of the public.” “Some pharmacies may also partner with local councils to collect and dispose of community sharps waste.”