NEILLSVILLE, WI (OnFocus) – Clark County residents now have a new way to dispose of unused medications and used sharps such as needles, lancets, syringes, IV sets and auto-injectors.

In mid-August, a medication and needle disposal unit were installed in the secured entrance of the Clark County Courthouse in Neillsville (door B103, corner of East 6th Street).

The purpose of these units is to promote public safety and fill a gap in services. They are accessible Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Each disposal unit is tamper-proof and functions similarly to an outside mail bin – people open a compartment at the front of the unit, place their unwanted materials inside, close the compartment, and then allow the materials to fall through a chute into an internal collection bin. It should be noted that the opening of each bin measures only 4 x 13.5 inches.

Wisconsin law requires everyone to dispose of sharps separately from general waste. This minimizes the risk of injury and prevents the potential spread of infection. Before disposal, all needles, lancets, syringes and other sharps should be placed in small, puncture-proof containers. Coffee cans and laundry detergent bottles do not fit into the narrow opening of the new needle drain.

Appropriately sized (1 quart) biohazard containers are located on a cart next to the new needle disposal bin and are free to the public. The same containers are also available at the following locations throughout the county: Abbotsford City Hall/Public Library, Colby Community Library, Loyal Public Library, Thorp Public Library and Owen City Hall. Another public needle disposal bin is located outside of Owen City Hall and is accessible 24 hours a day.

Products that are not suitable for either the sharps disposal unit or the new medication disposal unit include aerosol cans, thermometers, inhalers, liquids, garbage, lotions, or hazardous chemicals. Before disposing of unused or expired medications, all personal information should be removed from the labels or packaging of the medication bottles. If this is too difficult, the pills can be placed in Ziploc-like bags for disposal.

Other drug disposal locations in Clark County include the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Colby-Abbotsford Police Department, Loyal Police Department, or Thorp City Hall. For more information or hours of operation, visit the Clark County Health Department’s Resources page at https://www.clarkcountywi.gov/ph-resources.

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