(Sacramento) - Today, Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson’s (D-Oakland) sharps legislation, AB 501, received a 42-24 vote on the floor of the Assembly and now goes to the State Senate. 

According to Assemblymember Swanson, AB 501 will allow “at home” patients who use injection devices to treat diabetes, hepatitis B and C, HIV, arthritis, allergies, or multiple sclerosis to safely and efficiently dispose of their used sharps in accordance with current law.  It will provide patients with a returnable safe sharps disposal container, which can be taken or mailed to appropriate disposal sites. 

“This legislation is necessary because as of Sept. 1, 2008, it is against the law for anyone to knowingly throw these used needles in the regular trash.  Currently, a majority of patients using these sharps have no idea of where or how to legally dispose of them and need help in proper disposal methods.  We have an obligation as legislators to insure that citizens can comply with the laws we create.  AB 501 is designed to allow consumers of infectious used sharps, syringes or needles to obtain a safe way to dispose of their used needles.” stated Swanson. 

This legislation is the result of a grassroots initiative led by the Alameda Sharps Coalition.  The coalition is comprised of governmental representatives, community-based health organizations, health providers and community representatives who have worked tirelessly with Alameda County to sponsor this legislation.  “This is a good day for all patients that depend on medications delivered by sharps.  This Bill will address the unnecessary public health risk of the unsafe disposal of 400 million sharps and syringes into non-medical waste management systems, which end up in California landfills each year,” said Lara Sim of the Alameda Sharps Coalition. 

Public health and sanitation experts agreed that this legislation was necessary because infectious sharps pose a significant risk of injury to children and solid waste and recycling facility employees.  “They are becoming a significant public health risk, as well as, a dangerous risk for sanitation workers all over California.  Waste Management has made a commitment to do everything we can to protect our employees by getting sharps waste out the solid waste stream,” said a pleased Kent Stoddard the Vice President for Public Affairs of Waste Management, Inc.

“This legislation is a pro-active approach toward the impact that one million Californians who must self-inject prescription medications generate in the solid waste stream.  It is an environmental, public health and workers’ safety bill,” concluded Swanson