Learn how to discard needles and medical supplies safely.

AS beach patrols keep a wary eye out for improperly discarded hypodermic needles and blood vials this summer, environmentalists, hospitals, refuse handlers and Government regulators are grappling with a more serious public health problem: even properly handled medical waste is becoming harder to dispose of safely.

Discarding used needles and not sharing them reduces the spread of the AIDS virus and diseases like hepatitis.

There are discarded hypodermic needles, crack cocaine paraphernalia, mounds of trash and the stench of human waste.

Occasionally the public and certain workers (e.g. sanitation workers or housekeeping staff) may sustain needle-stick injuries involving inappropriately discarded needles.

Mr. Esposito said he goes the extra mile by discarding needles after every customer.

The items include blood-soaked bandages, culture dishes and other glassware, discarded surgical gloves, instruments, lancets, syringes, and needles (medical sharps), cultures, stokes, and swabs used to inoculate cultures, and removed body organs such as tonsils, appendices, etc.

Properly store and discard all syringes and needles.

Firefighters are trained to "duck walk" rather than crawl through abandoned buildings where drug addicts might have discarded needles.