Collecting spilled or misplaced clinical wastes that may arise somewhere between producer and waste management contractor – perhaps that stray yellow or orange sack sitting on the highway forelornely awaiting collection, the bag blown across a hospital car park, even a bag or bin falling from the back of a tail lift wagon – is something that too often gets missed.

Nobody wants to search for spilled or misplaced wastes, and few have eyes open to spot such events of to deal with them when the do arise. Bags gradually decay where the fall, or split open with their content blowing in the wind. Too often nobody wants to make the effort.

But it’s not always that way. In the US, streets around the Sulzbacher Center  in Jacksonville were closed for about an hour when a bag of medical waste out of place created a scare!

Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department’s hazardous materials team responded to the center on East Adams Street about 07:30. Initial reports said a container usually used to dispose of syringes from the homeless center’s clinic was found outside.

JFRD’s on-scene commander said the box did contain used syringes. It was disposed of property and the scene was cleared before 9 am.

Such a remarkable response, one that is perhaps way over the top but cannot really be criticised, for a sharsp bin. I

All streets in the area reopened by 8:45 a.m.