Disposing of Used Diabetic Needles in Coastal Empire: Costly, Dangerous, and Inefficient

A Three On Your Side Health Report that, considering how fast cases of diabetes are growing, could impact a lot of people.
A Diabetic Savannah man called WSAV with a question... one we thought would have a simple answer... what should he do with his used insulin needles?
With an estimated eleven percent of the population in Chatham County Diabetic, surely there is a program...
After some digging and more digging News 3's Alice Massimi finds out there's not.

I called just about everywhere I could think of…hospitals, pharmacies, doctors, the VA....even the Diabetes Association, nothing. We put a post out to our three-thousand plus friends on the WSAV Facebook page.
A lot of leads that just didn't go anywhere.
We had a couple of suggestions to just flush them down the toilet...a major no, no says the City of Savannah.
Fire Departments and some hospitals used to collect them; they no longer do... which leaves Joe Williams, who wants to dispose of them properly, scratching his head.

Two years ago Joe Williams was diagnosed with diabetes...
Twice a day he checks his blood sugar level and gives him self insulin.
“I’ve been putting them in these plastic containers. You are not supposed to recap them but I thought it would be better if I put the cap back on the needle and stick it inside the jug to keep it from puncturing the container,” explains Joe Williams.
It's not a very high tech method but Williams says he feels it's the best way to at least store them... what he really wants to do is dispose of them though...
“I tried to find out where do I take it to get rid of it and I called around. I called the Health Department and they don't take them anymore. I went to the fire department and when I got there they told me they don't take them,” explains Williams.
Thinking someone must be able to take his container of used needles he began making calls...to the hospital, doctors, and even pharmacies.
“I thought there would be somewhere I could take it but I found out I couldn't get rid of them anywhere so that left me to call you, “ says Williams.
With not many options its believed many diabetics put their needles in the trash which puts sanitation workers at risk.
John Denion the City of Savannah's Refuse Collections Director says by law the city can not accept the needles.
“Unfortunately anything in the trash cart is out in the public so not only the employees but the public is also in danger,” points out Denion.
With that in mind Williams says he is just trying to do the right thing.
“It’s surprising that no one has run across this problem before.”
Mr. Williams knows he can get biohazard needle containers and they only cost four or five dollars but to ship and destroy the needles... one company quoted more than sixty dollars to get rid of 180 needles...on a fixed income Williams says that's just not feasible.
So we still don't really have an answer... I will continue to look around but in the meantime if you know of anything please let me know... my email is amassimi@wsav.com