New York State Safe New York State Safe Sharps Collection Sharps Collection

ProgramProgramWesley E. BadilloWesley E. Badillo

Expanded Syringe Access Program Expanded Syringe Access Program ((ESAP) CoordinatorESAP) Coordinator

NYS Department of Health AIDS NYS Department of Health AIDS InstituteInstitute

History of Sharps Safe History of Sharps Safe Disposal in New York StateDisposal in New York State

Safe Disposal of hypodermic needles and Safe Disposal of hypodermic needles and syringessyringes

1992 - Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP) were established1992 - Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP) were established Collect ~ 3,000,000 annuallyCollect ~ 3,000,000 annually

1993 – Hospitals and nursing homes are mandated to 1993 – Hospitals and nursing homes are mandated to accept them from individuals as a community serviceaccept them from individuals as a community service

2001 – Implementation of the Expanded Syringe Access 2001 – Implementation of the Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP) and the creation of Demonstration Program (ESAP) and the creation of community-wide coalitions that linked syringe access and community-wide coalitions that linked syringe access and safe disposalsafe disposal

2001 - New York State Safe Sharps Collection Program2001 - New York State Safe Sharps Collection Program In 2006, approximately 12 tons of syringes and other In 2006, approximately 12 tons of syringes and other

sharps were collectedsharps were collected

ESAP RegulationsESAP Regulations

In 2000, the New York State Legislature changed the In 2000, the New York State Legislature changed the Public Health Law to authorize a demonstration Public Health Law to authorize a demonstration program to expand access to sterile hypodermic program to expand access to sterile hypodermic needles and syringes. needles and syringes.

ESAP regulations authorize licensed pharmacies, ESAP regulations authorize licensed pharmacies, health care practitioners and Article 28 facilities to health care practitioners and Article 28 facilities to furnish/sell up to 10 syringes per transaction to furnish/sell up to 10 syringes per transaction to people 18 years old and olderpeople 18 years old and older

Safety insert must be included with each transaction Safety insert must be included with each transaction – Information includes safe disposal– Information includes safe disposal

What the Insert says about What the Insert says about DisposalDisposal

Disposing of Syringes and Needles SafelyDisposing of Syringes and Needles Safely

To dispose of used syringes and needles safely:To dispose of used syringes and needles safely:

Put used syringes and needles in a plastic bottle, such as a laundry detergent or bleach Put used syringes and needles in a plastic bottle, such as a laundry detergent or bleach bottle; the bottle should be unbreakable and puncture-resistant. bottle; the bottle should be unbreakable and puncture-resistant.

Close the screw-on top tightly and label your sealed container: Close the screw-on top tightly and label your sealed container: "Contains Sharps""Contains Sharps". . Don't use coffee cansDon't use coffee cans; plastic lids can come off easily; ; plastic lids can come off easily; don't use glassdon't use glass bottles which may bottles which may

break. break. Do NOT put a plastic container with used syringes out with the recyclable plastics. Do NOT put a plastic container with used syringes out with the recyclable plastics. CheckCheck with your local health, sanitation, or public works department or trash collector with your local health, sanitation, or public works department or trash collector

before you dispose of used syringes and needles in your household trash.before you dispose of used syringes and needles in your household trash. HospitalsHospitals accept used syringes and needles when put in containers using the steps listed accept used syringes and needles when put in containers using the steps listed

above. The used syringes and needles then become regulated medical waste and the above. The used syringes and needles then become regulated medical waste and the hospitals must handle them in accordance with Environmental Conservation Law. This hospitals must handle them in accordance with Environmental Conservation Law. This helps to protect the environment.helps to protect the environment.

Syringe exchange programsSyringe exchange programs in New York State can dispose of your used syringes and in New York State can dispose of your used syringes and give you new, sterile syringes.give you new, sterile syringes.

Exposed needles are dangerous.Exposed needles are dangerous. If you don't have a puncture-resistant container, recap If you don't have a puncture-resistant container, recap your needle after you use it. Don't recap needles used by other peopleyour needle after you use it. Don't recap needles used by other people

For more information on where you can safely dispose of your used syringes, visit the For more information on where you can safely dispose of your used syringes, visit the Sharps Collection Site Directory site. This list includes alternative sites that are not . This list includes alternative sites that are not hospitals or nursing homes. hospitals or nursing homes.

Where do these syringes get Where do these syringes get disposed?disposed?

An important component of ESAP is the An important component of ESAP is the New York State Safe Sharps Collection ProgramNew York State Safe Sharps Collection Program

Syringe Exchange Programs accept used syringes Syringe Exchange Programs accept used syringes

Hospitals and nursing homes (930) are mandated to accept Hospitals and nursing homes (930) are mandated to accept home-generated sharps as a community servicehome-generated sharps as a community service

To help facilitate the collection of used sharps, the New York To help facilitate the collection of used sharps, the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute encourages other State Department of Health AIDS Institute encourages other sites such as pharmacies, health care centers and community-sites such as pharmacies, health care centers and community-based organizations to become an alternative safe sharps based organizations to become an alternative safe sharps collection sitecollection site

To become an alternative safe sharps collection site you must To become an alternative safe sharps collection site you must register with the New York State Department of Health AIDS register with the New York State Department of Health AIDS InstituteInstitute

Sharps Containers Provided Sharps Containers Provided by NYSDOH free of chargeby NYSDOH free of charge

Setting for Collection SitesSetting for Collection Sites PharmaciesPharmacies Housing facilities Housing facilities County landfill sitesCounty landfill sites County solid waste transfer stationsCounty solid waste transfer stations Community based organizations (i.e., adult day care Community based organizations (i.e., adult day care

center, MMTP, walk about teams)center, MMTP, walk about teams) Social service agenciesSocial service agencies Veteran hospitalsVeteran hospitals Mobile VansMobile Vans Health centersHealth centers Community collegeCommunity college AirportAirport Bus depotBus depot Police stationPolice station

ESAP Demonstration ESAP Demonstration Projects in New York StateProjects in New York State33 demo projects throughout the state33 demo projects throughout the state

30 projects are involved in the 30 projects are involved in the promotion of safe disposal activitiespromotion of safe disposal activities

3 projects are community-wide 3 projects are community-wide coalitions that actively recruit coalitions that actively recruit agencies/facilities to become safe agencies/facilities to become safe sharps collection sitessharps collection sites

As an ESAP-registered As an ESAP-registered provider you can:provider you can:

Furnish syringes and provide harm reduction Furnish syringes and provide harm reduction material to clientsmaterial to clients

Provide Personal sharps containers (fitpacks) for Provide Personal sharps containers (fitpacks) for proper disposal of syringesproper disposal of syringes

Encourage clients to dispose of their syringes and Encourage clients to dispose of their syringes and fitpacks in a kiosk and/or in hospital and nursing fitpacks in a kiosk and/or in hospital and nursing homes, not in the garbagehomes, not in the garbage

Provide education, information and referrals to Provide education, information and referrals to patientspatients

A combination of…A combination of…

All of the aboveAll of the above

Samples of Safe Disposal Samples of Safe Disposal Advertisement in NYSAdvertisement in NYS

CountyCounty

I. Billboard in Montgomery CountyI. Billboard in Montgomery County

Samples of Safe Disposal Samples of Safe Disposal Advertisement in NYSAdvertisement in NYS

II. Billboard in Erie CountyII. Billboard in Erie County

Samples of Safe Disposal Samples of Safe Disposal Advertisement in NYSAdvertisement in NYS

III. PSA- Freddy the FrogIII. PSA- Freddy the Frog

A key aspect that A key aspect that has made this has made this

program successful program successful is the collaboration is the collaboration

and partnership and partnership established among established among

agencies, agencies, government government

entities and waste entities and waste hauler companieshauler companies

For Additional Information For Additional Information on ESAPon ESAP

Contact:Contact:Wesley E. Badillo, MD, MPHWesley E. Badillo, MD, MPH

CoordinatorCoordinatorExpanded Syringe Access Demonstration ProjectExpanded Syringe Access Demonstration Project

NYS Department of Health AIDS InstituteNYS Department of Health AIDS Institute90 Church Street 1390 Church Street 13thth Floor Floor

New York, NY 10007New York, NY 10007Ph: (212) 417 4746Ph: (212) 417 4746Fax: (212) 417 4709Fax: (212) 417 4709

E-mail: web03@health.state.ny.usE-mail: web03@health.state.ny.us