City residents could be paid to give used syringes and other medical waste to Shanghai hospitals for disposal, under a new proposal.

Political advisers are calling on the city authorities to provide incentives to tackle the problem of disposing of the 1 million syringes used by Shanghai residents every day at home.

Currently, these are often simply discarded along with domestic waste, creating health concerns as syringes and needles can harbor disease, including HIV/AIDs.

This situation has also led to an illegal used syringe trade, with plastic particles recycled to make goods such as toys, cups and water barrels.

Advisers have proposed that community hospitals and community medical service centers take charge of the collection and management of medical waste.

Paying small sums or giving little gifts would encourage people to hand over syringes and other waste, they said.

More at http://www.ecns.cn/2014/10-20/139066.shtml