For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Town of East Bridgewater Offers Guidance on Needle/Sharps Disposal

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Public health and safety officials are seeking to offer clear guidance and tips for residents looking to dispose of needles and syringes in a safe manner.

The town offers several options for disposing of needles and sharps.

Official Disposal Sites:

• East Bridgewater Health Department, 175 Central St., during business hours (Mondays 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. to noon. Closed weekends)
• East Bridgewater Fire Department, 268 Bedford St., whenever the Health Department is closed, including evenings and weekends.

Needles must be capped and secured and should be placed in a plastic container (such as a food storage container) for transport.

The East Bridgewater Police Department does not have a sharps disposal kiosk, but the Police Department WILL accept needles, and an officer will transport them to the appropriate town department for disposal.

Additionally, if you have uncapped or loose needles, or if you find needles improperly disposed of or littered in the community, the East Bridgewater Police Department is available to assist. Uncapped or unsecured needles or syringes will be secured by an officer, or an officer will respond to safely remove sharps found as litter.

Recently, a town resident received incorrect feedback when they brought needles to the Police Department for disposal and were told that the police department does not accept needles. The employee has been retrained on appropriate procedures. While the Fire Department and Health Department have the disposal kiosks on hand, police officers will always accept sharps for proper disposal from residents.

Anyone with questions about needle and syringe disposal should call the Health Department at 508-378-1612, the Fire Department at 508-378-2071, or the Police Department at 508-378-7223.

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