Why You Should Safely Dispose of Medical Waste at Home
為什麼您應該在家中安全地處理醫療廢棄物
As more people manage health conditions at home, the amount of medical waste generated has increased.
隨著越來越多人在家中管理健康狀況，所產生的醫療廢棄物數量也隨之增加。
Items like [sharps|noun], [blood-soaked bandages|noun], and [unused medications|noun] require careful handling to keep our communities safe.
像是銳器、沾血的繃帶以及未使用過的藥物等物品，皆需要謹慎處理，以維護社區安全。
Improper disposal puts sanitation workers at risk of [needle-stick injuries|noun] and dangerous pathogen exposure.
不當的處置會讓清潔人員面臨針扎傷害與危險病原體暴露的風險。
Furthermore, flushing medicine or tossing medical waste into regular trash can [contaminate groundwater|verb phrase] and damage local ecosystems.
此外，將藥物沖入馬桶或將醫療廢棄物丟入一般垃圾中，可能會造成地下水汙染並破壞當地生態系統。
Protecting the environment and our neighbors is a shared responsibility, but the good news is that safe disposal is simple.
保護環境與鄰居是我們共同的責任，但好消息是，安全處置其實很簡單。
For sharps, always use a puncture-resistant, labeled container and research your local drop-off sites or mail-back programs.
針對銳器，請務必使用防穿刺、並貼有標籤的容器，並查詢當地的回收點或郵寄回收計畫。
Never flush expired medicine; instead, look for pharmacy [take-back programs|noun] or community collection events.
絕不要將過期藥物沖入馬桶；相反地，應尋找藥局的藥物回收計畫或社區的收集活動。
Remember, your [local health department|noun] is an excellent resource for navigating specific rules in your area.
請記住，您的在地衛生部門是查詢當地特定規範的絕佳資源。
