A Port Stephens mother of two diagnosed with Crohn's disease has thanked Port Stephens Council for listening to community concerns by replacing a sharps disposal bin located in a Raymond Terrace carpark.
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Rekell Sullivan, an aged care nurse from Raymond Terrace, contacted the Examiner to express her "disgust" in the condition of the former medical waste bin and the lack of signage after a visit to the local chemist last month.
"I am happy with the outcome and that the council has acted," Ms Sullivan said after being alerted to the replacement bin.
Ms Sullivan, who is required to give herself injections using a pen of the drug Humira as part of her treatment, had described the state of the bin as "a slap in the face for all people wanting to safely dispose of their waste".
She said that it was difficult to locate the bin in among a group of industrial sized bins located in the carpark behind the William Street shopping strip.
"At first glance it looked like an old charity clothing bin with graffiti all over it. There was no sign saying it was a bio-hazard disposal bin."
The Examiner story resonated with west ward councillor Giacomo Arnott, who decided to take up the case with the council.
"I was very disappointed to see the state of the sharps bin, so I contacted council staff immediately and asked for it to be checked and fixed or replaced if possible," Cr Arnott said.
"I'm pleased to report there is now a brand new sharps bin with new labeling. Council staff recognised the importance of this sharps bin, and worked very quickly to get this done."