Public Health in the Rockies 2026

This session highlights a public health initiative aimed at improving clinical safety, reducing environmental impact, and lowering costs through the transition from single‑use to reusable sharps containers. The purpose of this work was to examine safety concerns related to sharps‑handling incidents across clinical and off‑site settings, assess the environmental burden of disposing nearly 1,000 pounds of plastic waste annually, and evaluate whether a reusable sharps container system could address these needs while remaining cost‑effective. Methods included reviewing documented safety events among clinical staff, analyzing workflow patterns for sharps container use across Sexual Health, Immunizations, WIC, school‑based, and community programs, and conducting a cost and waste assessment comparing single‑use and reusable systems. Data was drawn from staff reports, vendor contract information, and clinic utilization patterns. Results showed repeated safety incidents involving overfilled or unsecured sharps containers, a large annual plastic waste footprint from single‑use containers, and a projected cost savings of approximately $8,081.55 or more per year with reusable containers. Transitioning to reusable containers also reduces staff exposure risks by providing secure, vendor‑maintained units that can be safely swapped on site. Implications for public health professionals include recognizing how operational decisions directly influence staff safety, environmental sustainability, and program costs. Participants will leave with actionable insights into how sustainable systems can be integrated into clinical operations without added burden, how to evaluate similar waste‑stream challenges within their own organizations, and how small‑scale system improvements can contribute to broader public health goals in environmental stewardship, worker protection, and resource optimization.