Why sharps need professional handling
A used needle can carry bloodborne pathogens, and needlestick injuries are a recognized occupational hazard. Discarded sharps turn up in rental units, vacant homes, restrooms, parking lots, parks, landscaping, vehicles and encampment areas. Picking them up with bare hands or putting them in household trash puts you, your staff, sanitation workers and the public at risk.
What we do
- Search. A systematic sweep of the affected area: furniture cushions, drawers, bathrooms, vents, landscaping, gutters, vehicles and under debris. The search is often more important than the pickup, because missed sharps cause later injuries.
- Safe collection with tongs or other tools, never by hand, into puncture-resistant, labeled sharps containers.
- Associated cleanup. Paraphernalia, blood and other contamination found with the sharps.
- Disposal. Containers are disposed of in line with state and local medical-waste and sharps rules.
- Documentation of the areas searched and the items recovered, useful for property managers and facility files.
Where we work
- Rental units after move-out or eviction
- Vacant and foreclosed properties
- Retail, restaurant and office restrooms
- Parking lots, garages and building perimeters
- Parks, campuses and common grounds
- Vehicles
If you find a needle
Don't recap or break it. Keep people and pets away. If you must move it to prevent injury, use tongs and drop it point-first into a rigid, puncture-resistant container with a lid. If someone is stuck by a needle, wash the area with soap and water and contact a healthcare provider promptly. Post-exposure care is time-sensitive.
Recurring problems
Properties that find sharps repeatedly may benefit from scheduled sweeps, sharps disposal boxes in restrooms, and coordination with local public-health programs.
Common questions
Can I throw a needle in the trash?
Many communities prohibit loose sharps in household trash. Check your local rules, or have a professional collect them.
Do you test needles?
No. We collect and dispose of them. A healthcare provider handles any exposure concern.