Public health reports surge in sharps-container drop-offs; staff weighing disposal options

Public‑health staff and board members told the board they have seen a growing number of sharps containers brought to the public‑health office by community members and by the county jail. Staff said the increase has prompted discussions about how best to manage collection and disposal without creating a hazardous backlog at the clinic.

Board members described current practice — bringing sharps to the hospital for pickup — and said the county is exploring two options: partner more formally with the hospital to piggyback on its routine pickups, or contract directly with a medical‑waste vendor. Staff identified StereCycle as the vendor that currently collects medical waste on a truck pickup schedule.

"We do actually give out sharps containers to community members, but we really have kind of had an issue with them coming back to us," a board member said, noting the clinic’s safety and storage concerns. Staff added that the jail has been sending containers as well, increasing volume.

The board discussed costs and logistics: sharps must be packaged in specific containers, handled by trained personnel and taken to a certified processor; frequent pickups are expensive. Staff said they will meet with the hospital contact to discuss finer pickup details and pricing and will evaluate whether to contract their own disposal schedule or partner with the hospital or RHCC.

No final decision was made; staff said the board will receive follow‑up recommendations once meetings with hospital staff and vendors are complete.