Thurrock council uses blue bins for domestic recyclacbles. They have been complaining that “some residents are costing it money buy throwing medical waste in their blue bins”  –  never mind saftey, saving money is obviously a more important consideration!

Speaking about what is causing the most problems, Labour cabinet member for the environment, Val Morris-Cook said  “Syringes and needles are also being put in the blue bin – the disposal of medical waste in this way is a cause for concern, residents should contact their local chemist or their GP for advice on safe disposal of such items and definitely not put them in their recycling bin.

“Medical waste is an obvious no-no, but any contamination of the dry recycling leads to the refusal of an entire load, not just one bin. This costs the council money, it costs council tax-payers  money, and it adds to the amount of rubbish being put in landfill.

http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/news/9310014.Medical_waste_contaminating_blue_bins/

Of course, this does not deal with the problem but just moves it somewhere else,with no certainty of success. If clinical wastes are being produced in the community then the council also have a role in its management and might usefully provide some information. Pushing away those who need guidance is no way to solve a problem!

Thurrock is perhaps better that some, providing on its web site some very basic information about clinical waste disposal and the reporting of needle finds. If that information is inadequate then further interventions are needed. That may require an investigaton of the provision of services to insulin-dependent diabetics, liaising with GPs and the PCT.  For this needles left by addicts, which may be found littering the streets but which are often used behind closed doors and may find their way into Thurrock’s blue bin, the solution is particularly complex and centres on ietfying and engaging with addicts, and taking a proactive approach to teh provision of clean needles and sharps bins. It seems unnecessary to remind them that their casual disposal of ne