[Press Release] : New Health Department program reduces harmful waste

[Press Releases]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Mary Martin, Public Health Manager - (573) 874-7354,
mmmartin at GoColumbiaMo.com or Geni Alexander, Public Information
Specialist - (573) 874-7632, gaalexan at GoColumbiaMo.com 

New Health Department program reduces harmful waste

COLUMBIA, MO (August 7, 2008) - The Columbia/Boone County Health
Department’s new Red Box program begins tomorrow. The program, which
will significantly decrease the amount of used syringes, needles and
lancets (also called “sharps”) placed in local landfills, is the
brainchild of Environmental Health Specialist Kris Vellema.

Through the Red Box program, the Health Department will distribute free
sharps disposal containers for patients to fill at home. When the
container is full, participants return it to the Health Department for
proper disposal. 

While primary users will include diabetic patients, the program is open
to any citizen who uses sharps at home, including those treating
allergies, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS,
infertility, migraines, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and psoriasis.


A similar program in an Indiana county removed approximately 45,000
sharps from the solid waste stream in just one year. In addition to
alleviating landfill waste, Red Box will help keep city refuse
collectors safe from accidental needle sticks as they collect household
trash. 

Vellema’s idea was chosen from a field of 10 by the city’s
Executive Safety Committee for the P.R.I.D.E. Safety Program award,
administered through the city’s Risk Management department. The
program will provide initial funding for the implementation of Red Box.


The Health Department will distribute free sharps containers Monday -
Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Health Department clinic, 1005 West
Worley in Columbia.

For more information about other Columbia/Boone County Health
Department programs and services, visit www.GoColumbiaMo.com
(http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ ).

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