‘Don’t be a prick’ campaign encourages safe needle disposal

A new campaign by the Waste Resource Association of Nova Scotia is using strong language to get its point across.

“Don't be a prick” aims to remind people to safely dispose of their needles and medical waste.

A serious of videos shows the potential dangers faced by those in the waste disposal industry.

Kirk Symonds, who created the campaign, said in Nova Scotia, some gets pricked roughly every two years by a needle, but there are many more near misses.

“When it comes to waste, there's nothing more terrifying than seeing needles in the garbage or seeing them on the sorting line at a recycling centre,” he told NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon MacLeod Show. “Sadly, everybody in my industry knows somebody who has suffered a needle prick and it's completely preventable.”

Needles can be safely disposed in Safe Sharps Containers, which can be picked up for free at pharmacies throughout Nova Scotia, then dropped off again when full.

Because needles can transmit blood-borne illnesses like HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, an accidental prick is following by a year of medical testing.

“A lot of the time people have to take disability leave because the stress of it becomes so impactful. It can affect families as well,” Symonds said.

Symonds doesn't think people are intentionally trying to hurt waste workers, they just don't think of the consequences of throwing needles in the garbage or recycling.

He added the strong language used in the campaign is designed to grab attention.

“If we had had a campaign that said, 'Please don't put your needles in the garbage,' I don't think we'd be chatting today.”