[ Browse by Service Category : Waste Management Services : Sub-Topics of Refuse Disposal Services (204) ]
Hazardous Materials Collection Sites
Programs that sponsor sites where people can bring household cleaners, automobile products (e.g., antifreeze, brake fluid, gasoline, motor oil), pesticides, herbicides, paint products, outdated medicines and other hazardous materials typically found in the household for disposal. Hazardous materials are those that are labeled "corrosive", "flammable", "irritant", "toxic" or "poison" or which react when combined with other substances.
Medication Disposal
Programs that accept and safely dispose of unwanted or outdated medication. Substances that qualify for the program typically include such things as prescription drugs, nonprescription medication, acne therapies, athlete's foot treatment, vitamin and mineral supplements and throat lozenges. Medication disposal programs provide a environmentally safe alternative to flushing medications down the toilet where they may not be completely removed by the sewage treatment process or discarding them with household garbage where they may be found and consumed by children or animals or enter into the groundwater supply.
Sharps Disposal Programs
Programs that provide for the collection and safe disposal of "sharps" including syringes, needles with attached tubing, lancets and other materials that have been used by individuals with serious health conditions such as diabetes who manage their care at home. Included are collection boxes and kiosks for used sharps made available to the public by hospitals, pharmacies, health departments, mobile van programs, housing projects, police and fire stations and other community-based organizations; residential pickup services that give people special containers for their used sharps that can be placed at the curbside and picked up trained special waste handlers; and mail back programs that give people special containers that can be filled and mailed to designated facilities for disposal. The objective of these programs is to provide for the proper containment of sharps, and ensure that family members, sanitation workers and other people in the community are protected from potential injury or transmission of blood borne diseases due to needle sticks.
The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.