1. New York State Safe Sharps Collection Program
Wesley E. Badillo
Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP) Coordinator
NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute

2. History of Sharps Safe Disposal in New York State
Safe Disposal of hypodermic needles and syringes
Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP) were established
Collect ~ 3,000,000 annually
1993 – Hospitals and nursing homes are mandated to accept them from individuals as a community service
2001 – Implementation of the Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP) and the creation of community-wide coalitions that linked syringe access and safe disposal
New York State Safe Sharps Collection Program
In 2006, approximately 12 tons of syringes and other sharps were collected

3. ESAP Regulations
In 2000, the New York State Legislature changed the Public Health Law to authorize a demonstration program to expand access to sterile hypodermic needles and syringes.
ESAP regulations authorize licensed pharmacies, health care practitioners and Article 28 facilities to furnish/sell up to 10 syringes per transaction to people 18 years old and older
Safety insert must be included with each transaction – Information includes safe disposal

4. What the Insert says about Disposal
Disposing of 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 bottle; the bottle should be unbreakable and puncture-resistant.
Close the screw-on top tightly and label your sealed container: "Contains Sharps".
Don't use coffee cans; plastic lids can come off easily; don't use glass bottles which may break.
Do NOT put a plastic container with used syringes out with the recyclable plastics.
Check with your local health, sanitation, or public works department or trash collector before you dispose of used syringes and needles in your household trash.
Hospitals 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 hospitals must handle them in accordance with Environmental Conservation Law. This helps to protect the environment.
Syringe exchange programs in New York State can dispose of your used syringes and give you new, sterile syringes.
Exposed needles are dangerous. If you don't have a puncture-resistant container, recap your 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 Sharps Collection Site Directory site. This list includes alternative sites that are not hospitals or nursing homes.

5. Where do these syringes get disposed?
An important component of ESAP is the
New York State Safe Sharps Collection Program
Syringe Exchange Programs accept used syringes
Hospitals and nursing homes (930) are mandated to accept home-generated sharps as a community service
To help facilitate the collection of used sharps, the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute encourages other sites such as pharmacies, health care centers and community-based organizations to become an alternative safe sharps collection site
To become an alternative safe sharps collection site you must register with the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute

6. Sharps Containers Provided by NYSDOH free of charge

7. Setting for Collection Sites
Pharmacies
Housing facilities
County landfill sites
County solid waste transfer stations
Community based organizations (i.e., adult day care center, MMTP, walk about teams)
Social service agencies
Veteran hospitals
Mobile Vans
Health centers
Community college
Airport
Bus depot
Police station

8. ESAP Demonstration Projects in New York State
33 demo projects throughout the state
30 projects are involved in the promotion of safe disposal activities
3 projects are community-wide coalitions that actively recruit agencies/facilities to become safe sharps collection sites

9. As an ESAP-registered provider you can:
Furnish syringes and provide harm reduction material to clients
Provide Personal sharps containers (fitpacks) for proper disposal of syringes
Encourage clients to dispose of their syringes and fitpacks in a kiosk and/or in hospital and nursing homes, not in the garbage
Provide education, information and referrals to patients
A combination of…
All of the above

10. Samples of Safe Disposal Advertisement in NYS
I. Billboard in Montgomery County
County

11. Samples of Safe Disposal Advertisement in NYS
II. Billboard in Erie County

12. Samples of Safe Disposal Advertisement in NYS
III. PSA- Freddy the Frog

13. A key aspect that has made this program successful is the collaboration and partnership established among agencies, government entities and waste hauler companies

15. For Additional Information on ESAP
Contact:
Wesley E. Badillo, MD, MPH
Coordinator
Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Project
NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute
90 Church Street 13th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Ph: (212)
Fax: (212)