BUTTE NEEDLE USERS STUCK FOR DISPOSAL OPTIONS

Despite an unusual burglary last week that included an attempt to
steal used syringes, Shasta County officials said a new program to
provide citizens with a safe way to dispose of needles is a success.

Started just three months ago, the countywide program has established
15 disposal locations. Citizens can anonymously deposit used needles,
syringes and other sharps in a large metal container that looks and
operates much like a mail box. There is no cost.

Most have been placed outside three businesses operated by Big Foot
Recycling. Owner Jim Smith said burglars who stole aluminum cans from
his City of Shasta Lake location last week also turned the sharps
disposal container over and shook out some of the used syringes.

Smith said he was baffled why anyone would want them, but fully
supports the disposal program and will keep the containers at his businesses.

Although a new state law takes effect Sept. 1, 2008 that will outlaw
the dangerous disposal of sharps and syringes in household trash,
that remains the only no-cost method currently available to Butte
County residents.

Legislation passed in 2004 mandated that pharmacies provide for the
disposal of needles and syringes.

A call to eight Chico-area pharmacies by the Enterprise-Record on
Monday revealed that none accepted medical waste from customers.

Some referred inquiries to the Butte County Health Department, but
officials there said they've been telling people to call their local
pharmacy for help.

Enloe Medical Center contracts for the pickup and disposal of sharps,
but only for waste generated by its own staff.

At least two companies in Chico operate pickup and safe disposal
services for needles and syringes. The cost runs about $40 per month
for a container that will hold up to 170 syringes.

Disposal by mail services is also available.

If a citizen in Chico finds a needle or syringe in the street or
other public place, they can take it for safe disposal to the lobby
of the Chico Police Department, where a small sharps container has
been mounted on the wall.

Property Section Manager Joe Moralli stressed that the disposal
container is only for found syringes that pose a public danger, and
not for disposal of household medical waste.

It was installed just two weeks ago, and he doesn't know if anyone
has used it yet.

It someone does bring in a found needle or syringe, they'll probably
be asked to fill out a police report detailing where and when they
found it, Moralli said.

Shasta County health official Dr. Lou Anne Cummings said the need for
a free, anonymous disposal service was needed.

"When we first started, we had people bringing dozens of needles
they'd been storing at home," she said. The Chico company that picks
up the waste charges the county by the pound.

Cummings said most of the needles are being used by diabetics, who
may require up to four insulin injections per day.

The impetus behind the program, she said, was to reduce the spread of
blood-borne diseases -- especially Hepatitis B, C and HIV.

"We looked into it, and discovered there was really no convenient way
for people to dispose of needles," Cummings said.

The attempt to steal syringes last week was unusual, she said, but
noted that the design of the disposal boxes thwarted an attempt to
break into it. With a cantilevered door like mail boxes have, she
said it's impossible for a person to reach into the container and
pull syringes out.

Cummings didn't have figures on the cost of the program, but said it
is being covered by a grant and the county's general fund.

She said the program was patterned after disposal plans in other
areas of the country, where they've been shown to reduce the risk of
disease from accidental needle sticks.

"We thought it was a good idea to get this stuff out of the waste
stream as soon as possible," Cummings said.