PHOENIX, Arizona — A steady stream of needles, razor blades and other “sharps” are being found in Phoenix sorting facilities that threaten the safety of its employees.
The Phoenix Public Works Department reports that workers at the city’s two sorting facilities encounter medical waste and sharp objects daily. Despite the inherent risks, officials say the problem is largely preventable with better public education.
Inside the facilities, teams of eight to 12 people manually sort through a blur of material to salvage recyclables like aluminum cans and cardboard. It is a high-speed environment where a single misplaced needle can lead to potential illness or injury…