In some areas, there are special disposal schemes through which farmers can return filled sharps boxes to health authority or veterinary disposal arrangements. Following last year's prosecution the Farmers' Union of Wales have established just such a scheme with a minimal cost to farmers in West Wales. HSE endorses this initiative. Many vets will also help their farming clients and take back used sharps and medicines they have prescribed, provided they are safely contained in a sharps box. As well as the risk of needle-stick injuries to refuse collectors, leaving used needles lying around the lambing shed or milking parlour puts other workers and even children at risk of physical injury, disease transmission and contamination with potentially dangerous drugs.
Suitable containers are readily obtainable in a variety of sizes to suit particular farmers' needs.