WHAT started out as a warning about the dangers of unstable furniture left out for verge collections took a different turn last week.
Initial concerns about heavy items potentially falling on pedestrians and children being trapped inside fridges became a concern over needle stick injury and possible poisoning.
Last Thursday, Vincent Mayor Nick Catania and Guardian Express photographer Andrew Ritchie went to take a photo of items left out for verge collection and to their surprise discovered prescription medication, syringes and an epi-pen left in an abandoned fridge.
Mr Catania said he was able to push over the unsteady fridge with one finger to highlight one danger, and when he opened the door, he found another.
“The idea of the story was to advise people that they should be responsible for what they put on the verges,” he said.
“Not only fridges, wardrobes and book shelves that may fall on people, but I opened the door and there was all these syringes.”
Mr Catania said the issue was not limited to the Town of Vincent, with most local governments offering verge collections.
“Councils in good faith provide the service to get rid of all your rubbish, but that doesn’t mean you should put lives at risk when you do it,” he said
Residents are being told to call the local council immediately if they do find dangerous or hazardous materials on the verge during the collection.
The Department of Health recommends putting used needles and syringes in a plastic container with a secure lid, and taking unwanted medicines to a pharmacy for disposal.