Company says sharps disposal boxes upgraded, now more secure

A company that handles biohazardous waste in Saskatchewan says it’s now using needle disposal boxes that are more secure, including at the McDonald’s on Dewdney Avenue in Regina.

“Instead of relying on a cam-based lock in the front … we now secure them with a three-quarter-inch pin in the back with a padlock that is custom-keyed for us, and we are the only ones that possess the keys,” said Chris Carlson, a sales associate for Biomed Recovery and Disposal.

“They’re mounted right into the studs into the wall where they are installed. In a reasonable amount of time, they are next-to-impossible to open.”

In November, a viral video showed a large amount of needle debris spilled onto the restaurant’s bathroom floor. Health officials said somebody used an object to pry the box open.

Carlson said the company had been working on the upgrade before the video was posted. He added the new boxes were installed soon after the incident went public.

The boxes are emptied once per month if the client has opted for their full service, he said.

Once collected, Carlson said the needles are processed at the company’s plant in Aberdeen, Sask. where heat and pressure eliminate pathogens so the sharps are safe for the landfill.