Needles threaten waste management staff

People collecting and sorting through waste on Prince Edward Island are facing the danger of improperly disposed of needles, says the Island Waste Management Corporation.

'There was even one needle that appeared to be blood-filled.' — Heather Myers, Island Waste Management Corporation

IWMC disposal manager Heather Myers would like to see an education campaign to help convince drug users to dispose of their needles properly.

"Just a couple of weeks ago the central compost facility was having quite a number of syringes and needles coming across the sorting line. There was even one needle that appeared to be blood-filled," said Myers.

"It's very dangerous for the staff. They just never know when they're going to be coming in contact with a needle."

Myers says there has been at least one case where a worker at a private recycling facility was hurt by a needle, and had to undergo months of testing to make sure they weren't infected.

Last week a Charlottetown Tim Horton's revealed it installed sharps disposal units in its washrooms because staff and customers were finding discarded needles daily. The city councillor representing the downtown said he has been talking to a number of businesses facing the same problem.