Officials urge safe disposal of needles and glass following several injured workers | Reading Area

READING, Pa. – Reading officials are sounding the alarm after several workers were injured while collecting trash.

Public Works reported three injuries from improperly disposed items last quarter.

The company says things like broken glass, sewing needles, and syringes should not be loose in trash bags, as these items put workers at risk for lacerations, puncture wounds, and disease.

Officials say needles should be put in a hard plastic container, like a bottle, before disposal.

Steve Harrity, Solid Waste Recycling Manager, shared how to properly dispose of specific trash items.

“If you break a glass, for example, or a pane of glass or a window, you should put it in some type of other bag. Paper bags work pretty well, or a couple of bags. Wrap it up good and tape it shut,” said Harrity.

Officials have also suggested taping a note to the bag to alert workers of the potential danger.