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Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW Excellence in Environment Awards 2006-2007

The 2006-2007 Awards were presented at NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street Sydney, on Tuesday 4 December 2007.

Community Sharps Management Award
An award for councils who have put in place ongoing and/or trial collection systems and community education programs (including programs in partnership with State agencies, pharmacies, community groups and other stakeholders) for community sharps waste generated in households and public places.

Gloucester Shire Council
Division A Winner: Gloucester Community Sharps Management Project
Gloucester Shire Council recognised the lack of community sharps disposal facilities available to residents and visitors to the area and in conjunction with NSW Health Department established two (2) 120 litre community disposal facilities within easily accessible areas in the Gloucester Township. Council developed an informational brochure that has been distributed to all medical practitioners, veterinarians and pharmacists advising of the service.

Liverpool City Council
Division C Highly Commended: "Be Sharp Safe" Community Sharps Management Program
The Be Sharp Safe program provides an integrated awareness and collection program for responsible disposal of community sharps. The aim is for the Liverpool community to dispose of community sharps through the Be Sharp Safe collection program rather than the domestic waste stream. The Program operates collection sites through two systems: 1. A network of pharmacies selected for broad access coverage of the LGA (especially those belonging to the National Diabetes Services Scheme) 2. A network of public place sites identified through historic syringe litter responses which have collection capacities tailored to monitored collection levels. The program is neutral towards the individual generator of community sharps waste, whether for medical reasons or intravenous drug usage, and is aimed at providing appropriate waste solutions for a problem waste regardless of origin. The Be Sharp Safe program uses an integrated promotion identifying pharmacies and public place sites as Council-provided services for residents. The Be Sharp Safe promotional material is thematically integrated with the identification stickers at sites. The program is to deliver improved safety and amenity for residents, employees and contractors, and provide environmentally responsible solutions for a problem waste in accordance with its Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2005-2015.

NetWaste
Division C and Overall Category Winner: Community Sharps Management Project
The NetWaste Community Sharps Management Project was a collaborative effort between NetWaste, the NSW Department of Health and 14 Councils (including Bourke Shire, Cowra Shire, Dubbo City, Forbes Shire, Gilgandra Shire, Lachlan Shire, Lithgow City, Mid-Western Regional, The Oberon, Orange City, Parkes Shire, Walgett Shire, Warren Shire and Wellington Councils) in the Central and Western regions of NSW. The aim of the Project was to provide a collaborative and best practice approach to sharps management for member Councils within the NetWaste region. This was achieved through the installation of community sharps collection units at pharmacies, public toilets and public places across the region, with the locations determined through a risk assessment process. The aim of the project was also achieved through the development of a community sharps management plan, policy and procedure to be adopted by member Councils; and an education campaign to raise awareness and change disposal practices within the broader community. The education campaign included radio announcements and TV commercials on the safe disposal of community sharps, and supporting brochure and posters which were distributed through all participating Councils, pharmacies, community centres and Greater Western Area Health Services. The key message of the education campaign was 'Be a community sharps safety stickler.'

Other news

2005-2006 community sharps management category winner Port Stephens Council has continued its proactive approach to community sharps management by partnering with neighbouring lower Mid North Coast/Hunter councils in a regional project. Together with Cessnock, Maitland, Lake Macquarie and Great Lakes Councils, Port Stephens Council was successful in a joint application to NSW Health for a grant for nearly $60,000 to purchase and install community sharps disposal infrastructure and develop a regional safe disposal program for the area.

Bellingen Shire Council recently received a $10,000 grant from NSW Health for a Community Sharps Placement Program. The program will deliver 2 x 120 litre stainless steel disposal bins with 24 hour access in public places, and installation of 10 single syringe bins in public toilets. This mix of services will provide safe disposal facilities for members of the community and visitors who self-inject to treat a medical condition as well as injecting drug users. The location of the new services will be promoted in the local newspaper and through distribution of safe disposal resources such as brochures, posters, fridge magnets and stickers.

New information resources

Information about a new NSW Health brochure on the safe handling of community sharps is now available on this website. Go to Safe disposal brochure and follow the link under the NSW Health brochure heading.

Two new disposal stickers for community sharps bins are now available. Developed by NSW Health and Diabetes Australia NSW to be more user-friendly and provide clearer information on disposal bins, the new stickers are available in A4 & A5 format, with and without the NSW Needle Clean Up Hotline Number.Click here and here to view the stickers, which can be ordered by contacting david.baker@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

Information on how the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority manage community sharps in roadside rest stops is also now available. Go to Disposal options and follow the link under the OTHER STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES heading.

City of Sydney Syringe Management Plan 2005-2010

The City of Sydney's inaugural Syringe Management Plan was published in May 2005 and documents key strategies to address the inappropriate disposal of community sharps. The plan demonstrates the City's commitment to public health, harm reduction, and improved safety and cleanliness for its community.

The plan is the result of extensive consultation with City of Sydney staff and contractors and a wide range of community stakeholders, and provides an effective management tool to assist the City in meeting its obligations to provide safe workplaces and public areas. An important initiative is the inclusion of assessment criteria for installing new community sharps bins, or the removal of existing bins that are no longer required at specific locations.

Click here to view the City of Sydney Syringe Management Plan 2005-2010

For more information contact the Project Coordinator, Safe City on (02) 9265 9477

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A FULL COPY OF "THE COMMUNITY SHARPS MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR NSW COUNCILS"