MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital is offering a free used syringe disposal service.

“Massena Memorial Hospital recognizes the potential problem medical sharps may present, and welcomes to opportunity to assist community members with the disposal of their sharps,” said Mark Brouillette, senior director of professional and practice management and ancillary services.

Many community residents have medical conditions that require self-injections at home. The issues regarding safety and disease transmission in the disposal of home-generated needles, syringes and lancets (medical sharps) has caused some concern among families and refuse services, as well as landfill and recycling staffs, MMH said.

“We are happy to provide such a needed service to the community,” said Kevin Ward, laboratory director. “We offer this program to anyone in the community, but prefer that they use one of the hospital’s certified sharps container. We will accept a detergent bottle, if marked properly, but will then in turn give them a certified sharps container.”

The program is available to anyone who uses needles, syringes, lancets or other medical sharps in their home.

Residents can bring their medical sharps containers to the hospital lab reception area, on the main level of the new west wing, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

All sharps should be in a rigid puncture proof plastic container with a tightlifting screw top. This can include a plastic bleach or detergent bottle. No glass bottles or jars should be used. The container should be labeled “contains sharps.”

People can get free approved medical sharps container from the hospital laboratory phlebotomy center, on the main level of the new west wing. Containers must be clean and securely closed. When the container is full, close the lid securely and bring it to the drop off site, MMH said.

More info: 769-4300 or 4286