Peel is Pleading With Residents to Dispose of Medical Waste Properly in Brampton

Brampton | Ontario | Latest News |

Published February 24, 2017 at 1:40 am

If you use medical tools or equipment at home–thank syringes if you’re diabetic, for example–the Region of Peel is urging you to ensure you dispose of the waste properly.

If you use medical tools or equipment at home–thank syringes if you’re diabetic, for example–the Region of Peel is urging you to ensure you dispose of the waste properly.

According to the region, plastics that have been used for household medical waste cannot go into your recycling bin–they must be double-bagged and placed in the garbage.

“The Region of Peel has seen a spike in the amount of this type of waste that is being placed in recycling since we introduced our carts,” says Erwin Pascual, the Region’s Manager of Waste Program Planning. “If you’re not sure how to dispose of an item, visit peelregion.ca/waste and use our ‘how to sort your waste’ tool.”

As for what constitutes medical waste, the region says proper precautions should be taken when disposing of:

  • Dialysis tubing
  • Filters
  • Disposable towels and sheets
  • Colostomy bags
  • IV bags
  • Gastric and nasal tubes
  • Soiled dressings
  • Incontinence products

Residents who use sharps (needles, syringes and lancets) should obtain a free biohazard container from one of Peel’s six community recycling centres (CRC). These receptacles are safe for sharps and can be returned to a CRC for free disposal. Once the container is returned, another complimentary one will be given.

Peel is asking residents not to place sharps in any other receptacle.

Residents can also visit pharmacies participating in the Ontario Sharps Collection Program for a similar biohazard container service. 

If residents have more household medical waste than will fit in their garbage, they should contact the Region at 905-791-9499 or [email protected], or call 905-584-2216 toll-free in Caledon to inquire about how to be added to the region’s medical waste exemption list.

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