PICTURED is the collection box at the Lisbon Police Department, where it was discovered that more than 30 used needles were dropped. This creates a serious risk to the officers handling the returned medications.
After discovering several used needles in a drug collection bin, Lisbon Police Department is reminding the public about the restrictions on what can and cannot be disposed of in the bins.
The reminder comes after police recently discovered more than 30 used needles were dropped into the collection bin.
According to a press release by Lisbon Police: “This creates a serious risk to the officers handling the returned medications.”
Many police departments in Maine have drug collection bins for the public to drop off unwanted, expired or unused medications, the release notes. There are, however, restrictions as to what is allowed to be placed in the drop boxes. Liquids, creams, hydrogen peroxide, thermometers, inhalers, aerosol cans, medications from businesses or clinics, bloody or infectious waste and needles are not allowed in the bins.
Police said that those who use needles are allowed under Maine law to dispose of them in household trash if proper precautions are made to secure and label the container before doing so. Police can also help provide a free needle clipping device to make disposal safer.
For more information on the safe disposal of sharps, visit the Maine Department of Environmental Protection website at www.maine.gov/dep/waste /biomedical/sharps.html.
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