California State Senator Joe Simitian announced recently that his bill, SB 486, is headed to the Governor for review. The bill is designed to facilitate the safe disposal of syringes and needles (also known as "sharps") by requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers who sell specialty drug medications for home use to provide information on their websites on safe needle collection and disposal programs for their drugs. Over one million Californians who use specialty injection drugs don't have a safe, legal way to dispose of their sharps. Hence, approximately 386-million sharps are generated each year in California that need to be disposed of.

"Given the need in the US for a safe way to dispose of sharps, we are hopeful that the Disintegrator will eventually become a trusted household name," continues Dr. Tirotta.

Additionally, a congressional bill (S, 1312) is pending which would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage, as supplies associated with the injection of insulin, of containment, removal, decontamination, and disposal of home-generated needles, syringes, and other sharps through a sharps decontamination/destruction device or similar program under part D of the Medicare program.

Source: americansci