SJR78 Summary

• More than 3 billion medical sharps are used annually in Alabama homes and typically disposed of in household trash, creating health hazards for families and sanitation workers.

• Establishes a collaborative educational program involving the Alabama Department of Public Health, Department of Environmental Management, medical associations, pharmacy associations, home health care providers, and diabetes organizations to promote safe sharps disposal.

• Directs local pharmacies to provide safe disposal materials to customers purchasing sharps and label containers with "Do Not Recycle" warnings.

• Requires solid waste transportation services to provide educational information to residential customers at least quarterly and directs the Department of Public Health to display materials in all county health departments statewide.

• Sets January 1, 2011 as the completion deadline for all participating entities to implement educational efforts and post disposal information on their websites.