On Monday, July 10, 2017, the county health department showed a new machine for the safe disposal of used needles. The machine came from Sterilis, LLC. The health department used it for syringes returned through its needle exchange program.
How the machine worked
Staff put used needles into the machine. It sterilized and ground the waste for about 30 minutes at 280 degrees. A hot plate at the bottom heated water, which raised the temperature inside the vessel and killed germs. The result was a fine material that looked like confetti. The machine was portable, about the size of a photocopier, and was meant to cut the volume of waste by 80 percent.
In its first eight runs, the machine destroyed about 32 gallons of needles. Officials expected that amount to grow quickly.
The needle exchange program
The needle exchange program started in December 2015. By July 2017, the health department had collected more than 200,000 needles. The harm reduction clinic in Charleston met every Wednesday and saw about 300 people each week. More than 85 percent of patients returned their syringes. The health officer said the machine destroyed hazardous needles safely and made the public safer.
See the Harm Reduction Clinic, the Harm Reduction – Syringe Service Program and the Red Ribbon Award for the harm reduction program.