Tuesday, May 06, 2008

A Multiple Sclerosis Activist's Email re: Sharps Disposal

Addressed to Orange County Integrated Waste Management Disposal

To whom this may concern:

On September 1 of this year, it will become illegal to dispose of sharps in the garbage. To my knowledge, OC does not have an integrated policy for sharps disposal for private users (diabetics and others who must use needles for their prescription medications). Other counties in the state have programs in existence already. What does OC do for this need? Is there a program in existence or is there one being developed?

Most hospitals, doctors, etc. will not accept these used needles. What should a person like myself do? I do a self-injection every day for management of my Multiple Sclerosis and want to dispose of my needles in the correct manner. I know there are countless others who face the same issue on a daily basis, people who cannot make a special trip to a drop point because of disability.

Please let me know what your plans are for OC. If I can help in any way, offer any guidance from the community of users, please let me know.

Sincerely,

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't work for OC, I'm just interested in this issue.

If you can't go to a collection point, does that mean a solution for your would be curbside pickup or a mail-back program?

Have you tried to return them to the business that gives/sells them to you?

Frank said...

Hospital's, Doctor's offices and Pharmacy's will not take them.

Curbside maybe, but I'll bet most municipalities would squash the idea. Think cost!

Mail-back program- sure, but who's paying?

Anonymous said...

Hey Frank,
I need your email address. Please send me an e-mail so that we can chat.
Regards,
Stuart
mailto:stuartschlossman@bellsouth.net

Anonymous said...

Certain Walgreen's pharmacys have a three limit on a sharps container that you can get, where you can mail it in somewhere for free. You can look into it.

Anonymous said...

Disabled man sues city over access to sidewalks and bicycle paths

Disabled man sues city over access to sidewalks and bicycle paths

MIAMI -- Theo Karantsalis, a librarian who suffers from multiple sclerosis, filed a lawsuit against the city of Miami Springs, Miami-Dade County, and the Florida Department of Transportation seeking equal access to area sidewalks and bicycle paths. The case was filed on Sept. 22, 2008, in United States District Court, Southern District of Florida.

Karantsalis alleges that he is being "denied full, safe and equal access" to Miami Springs' "roads, sidewalks and bicycle paths" in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Karantsalis brought this to the attention of city, county, and state officials on Dec. 22, 2007, when he filed a complaint with the U.S. Justice Dept. requesting that the city ensure "that individuals with disabilities receive equal access to its benefits or services."

In the complaint, Karantsalis said that if he wasn't able to resolve this matter with the city, then he would bring a lawsuit to enforce his rights under Title II of the ADA. Karantsalis said he made repeated efforts to resolve this dispute without litigation.

"With regard to the city, I have phoned, e-mailed, visited, uploaded videos, and appeared at council meetings to point out ADA violations," said Karantsalis. "It's obvious the city wasn't interested in complying with the Act."

Karantsalis is an MS Activist with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Karantsalis is also a Miami-Dade County Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee member who identifies opportunities, recommends projects and provides input on projects that affect people who walk or ride their bike, in order to make bicycling and walking safe methods of transportation and recreation in Miami-Dade County.


Contact:
http://305bike.com/news.htm