HALO’s cleanup portfolio is quite diverse. Recently we started sharing
about the different kinds of Trauma Cleanups that we work on; our last blog
talked about Crime Scene Cleanups. Although not always classified as a
trauma, Needle and Drug Cleanups are treated with the
same extreme caution and care as cleanups in the trauma category.

Myths Of Needle & Drug Cleanups

At first thought you might assume that the discovery of needles and
syringes means that they were being used for drugs and illicit reasons, but
that is not always the case. HALO works with the disposal of needles and
syringes in two different capacities.

We clean up needles and syringes used for the administration of
prescription medications. For example, we may be at the home of
someone with hoarding disorder who also has diabetes managed by
insulin. Perhaps they ran out of room in their sharps container and started
discarding their used syringes around their home.

We also clean up needles and syringes used for the administration of
illicit drugs. Sometimes we discover these in the homes of clients, yet
mostly we get called by municipalities when needles and drug
paraphernalia are discovered in public places.

Disposal Of Needles & Drug
Paraphernalia

Regardless of their origin, needles and syringes and other paraphernalia
can be contaminated with blood and viruses that you may not be able to
detect including Hepatitis B and C, HIV and other diseases. Handling these
materials are deemed high risk. The proper cleanup and disposal of these
materials are regulated by local Health Departments. For example, needles
and syringes cannot be put into a trash bag and put into the garbage; they
need to be placed into approved sharps containers and then disposed of
properly. Sharps containers are placed into special biohazard boxes and
are then disposed of by companies that specialize in infectious waste. For
these reasons, professionals like HALO are called to remove needles and
other paraphernalia and then decontaminate the property.

The Safe Handling Of Needles

When we find needles and / or syringes on any site, there are a set of
standard rules we follow in handling them. We wear proper Personal
Protective Equipment – gloves specifically – when handling them. Gloves do
not protect us from getting punctured or cut per se, they are more so meant
to protect HALO employees against fluid contamination. To add a second
layer of protection, we also use tongs to pick up the paraphernalia. The
materials are then placed into a hard plastic container that is then tightly
sealed. If we know to expect to find needles and syringes we ensure that
we have a sharps container with us, but if we do not have one a heavy
plastic bleach bottle or drink bottle is sufficient.

If a HALO employee is exposed to contaminated materials, for example if
blood or bodily fluids gets onto our skin or if we puncture ourselves with a
needle, it results in a hospital trip; we like to avoid this. As such, we treat
every needle, syringe, glass-stemmed item and other paraphernalia as
contaminated in order to ensure that our HALO employees remain healthy
and safe.

Who Is Responsible For Needle And Drug
Cleanups?

If needles, syringes or other drug paraphernalia are found on private
property, it is the property owner who is responsible for removing these.
This could mean the home owner or the property manager depending on
whether this is a private residence or group of residences on one property,
like a condo building. If the property owner is not comfortable removing the
items, they call a company like HALO to have the hazardous material
removed.

If needles are found on public property, the municipality that controls that
space is responsible for the removal of the materials. In this case,
municipalities will usually also call companies like HALO.
In order to reduce the number of needles, syringes and other drug
paraphernalia found in public places, communities have introduced safe
injection sites and needle exchange programs. Although these programs
do reduce the number of biohazardous materials found in parks and other
public and private spaces, they have not eliminated the use of these
materials in these spaces. As such, HALO continues to get hired by
individuals, property managers and municipalities.

Keeping Clients And Communities Safe

HALO prides itself on doing work that keeps clients and communities safe
and Needle and Drug Paraphernalia Cleanups definitely do so. Whether
you are an individual, property manager, construction site supervisor or
municipality – HALO is dedicated to working with you to safen whatever
space it is you find these materials. Safe spaces to live within creates
freedom both physically and mentally – for ourselves, families, neighbours
and friends. HALO is always honoured to be a part of improving client and
community wellbeing and safety.