Adams Regional EMS announced that it will temporarily halt public use of the Sterilis needle disposal machine beginning Jan. 9 as preparations move forward for the demolition and rebuilding of the Bonneauville fire station.
According to a statement from Adams Regional EMS, the room used to store processed sharps containers is currently at capacity. The pause in service will allow staff approximately two months to complete the grinding of needles already collected. Once that work is finished, the Sterilis machine will be moved into storage.
EMS officials said the maintenance contract with Sterilis will be placed on hold during construction. When the new building is completed, the manufacturer is expected to perform comprehensive maintenance on the machine before it is returned to public service. The anticipated timeline for resuming operations is early 2027.
The Sterilis needle disposal program has served Adams County residents for several years. Healthy Adams County raised the funds to purchase the machine in 2019, and it has been in operation since 2020. The program was designed to provide a safe, accessible way for residents to dispose of used needles and other sharps generated by medical conditions such as diabetes or home-administered medications.
Under normal operations, residents can drop off sealed, puncture-proof containers — including commercial sharps containers or sturdy laundry detergent bottles — at a kiosk located in front of the Bonneauville Fire Station. Inside the machine, the contents are ground into small plastic “confetti,” rendering the needles unusable and safe for disposal in the regular trash.
The kiosk is located at Bonneauville Fire Department (United Hook & Ladder Co. 33, 10 Elm Ave., Gettysburg, Pa. 17325. Adams Regional EMS emphasized that no sharps will be accepted at the kiosk after Jan. 9 until the machine returns to service.
During the shutdown, residents are encouraged to explore alternative disposal options. These may include medical waste services that offer drop-off or pickup, as well as checking with local pharmacies, health care providers, or county recycling programs for special collection events.
Source: Adams EMS, Healthy Adams County