Residents in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse areas are being strongly reminded not to put medical waste in their recycling bins after medical syringes (pictured) were discovered in recycling put out by a South Oxfordshire resident.
At the recycling plant used by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils, workers separate some items by hand and it was fortunate that the needles did not cause injury or infection on this occasion.
Cllr Caroline Newton, Cabinet member for Environmental Services for South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We do not accept medical waste for recycling. We are urging people never to put needles or any medical waste into their recycling bin.”
Cllr Elaine Ware, Cabinet member for Environmental Services for Vale of White Horse District Council added: “If people need a clinical waste collection we recommend they speak to their GP surgery or healthcare practice who can arrange a collection with us, so it can be disposed of safely.”