A Gravesham Borough Council waste collection worker has been hospitalised after being injured by a discarded needle while emptying a bin.

Incident Details

The incident occurred this morning when a member of the household waste crew was collecting bins in the area. As he emptied a bin, he was pricked by a used needle, which had been improperly disposed of in household waste.

The injured worker was taken to hospital for immediate medical treatment, and Gravesham Borough Council has confirmed they are providing him with full support during his recovery.

Council Warning on Needle Disposal

In a statement, Gravesham Borough Council reminded residents about the dangers of incorrectly disposing of medical sharps, urging people to use proper sharps disposal containers.

“Never dispose of needles or other medical sharps in your normal bin.”

Used needles should only be deposited in medical sharps boxes, which can be obtained from local pharmacies, GP surgeries, or health services.

Safety and Legal Responsibilities

Improper disposal of needles and sharps poses a serious health risk to waste collection staff and the general public. The council is now reviewing safety measures and has reiterated the importance of correct disposal methods.

Residents are encouraged to follow local waste disposal guidelines to ensure incidents like this do not happen again.