Warren Shire Council will continue an education campaign in an effort to prevent the incorrect disposal of sharps, although the number of reported needles has not increased or decreased.
Sharps include needles and syringes used for health reasons such as by diabetics, as well as by injecting drug users.
They pose a health risk to council workers and the community if not disposed of correctly.
Trained personnel remove the hazards with police also notified of incidents.
Council installed sharps containers in public park toilets in an effort to deal with the problem and hope the ‘Safety Stickler’ campaign to include posters, a letter box drop of brochures and advertisements would help.
Incidents recorded from August to December last year included a syringe found by travellers in the pocket of a change table in Oxley Park, a syringe found on the walking path on the Ellengerah Road almost stepped on by a child, ‘party packs’ found in toilet bowls in Oxley Park and two used syringes found in a private yard in the vicinity of a children’s play area.
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