NORWICH – Upon the recent termination of a long-standing agreement between UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital and the Chenango County Health Department, county health officials are in search of new ways to dispose of sharp medical waste from the four county-run health facilities.

For more than two decades, Chenango County has had a working agreement with UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital for the disposal of medical sharps (syringes) used at county healthcare facilities, including the health department, the correctional facility, Preston Manor and the mental hygiene services, all free of charge. As of late, however, UHS CMH will no longer accept such waste from the county as per New York State medical regulations and its own corporate policy, leaving county health officials to find another viable alternative to dispose of the thousands of used syringes accumulated each month.

“We really appreciate all that CMH has done,” said Health Department Director Marcas Flindt in reference to the decades-old agreement between CMH and the county that has essentially saved the county thousands over the years. “It’s really a prudent decision on their part ... The challenge we face now is finding a company that we can use to dispose of this waste properly.”