LIVERMORE FALLS — People disposing of used hypodermic needles, lancets and other sharp medical objects should put them in a puncture-proof, leak-proof container that is taped shut and clearly marked “Do Not Recycle,” officials advise.

Town Manager Kristal Flagg said the town doesn’t want these types of materials disposed of at the transfer station but if people must, they need to be properly packaged and labeled.

The needles and other sharp medical objects are ending up in the recyclable compactor and the people who sort through the recyclables or fix the compactor are at risk of being punctured or cut.

People can take their used needles and similar objects to the Western Maine Action Coalition at 197 Lisbon St. in Lewiston or to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, Flagg said. To find out more about FMH’s service, call the hospital and ask for Environmental Services Manager Sarah Tanguay at 778-6031.

Flagg said she researched the issue after she had inquiries.

Fire Chief Gerry Pineau told selectmen that people can talk to doctor’s office personnel and see if they know where a proper disposal container can be bought.

According to ecomaine.org, proper disposal of sharp medical objects, including needles, involves placing them in a rigid, leakproof, puncture resistant container such as a hard-plastic bottle with a screw-on or tightly secured lid. A liquid detergent bottle is a good choice, or one could purchase a disposable container at a pharmacy, the website states. The containers should be stored where the sharp objects are generated but out of reach of children.

“To dispose of the container, label it using masking tape or duct tape and write ‘Do Not Recycle.’ Screw the lid on tightly and secure it with tape to prevent accidental opening. Then it can be included in regular household trash,” the site states.

The containers should go into the trash disposal container and not the recyclable container.

Ecomaine.org recommends not to use glass, milk jugs, milk cartons or clear plastic containers because they may break, be punctured or taken for illicit use. It also recommends that sharp objects not be put in a container that will be recycled or returned to a store.

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