Challenge being impacted by used needles in Moree and Gwydir recycling

The Challenge Recycling Centre in Narrabri also services the Moree and Gwydir Shires, and while needles "have been a problem since day one" Challenge CEO Barry Murphy has noticed a large increase in recent months.

"The last six to eight months the increase has really started to impact on us," he said.

"We find them put back in the large packets they come in, in cans and bottles, and loose as well - literally hundreds of them in one truck." 

Two workers have already suffered needle stick injuries leading Challenge to implement a safety procedure that has resulted in the trucks being returned to councils fully laden. 

Challenge also met with the respective councils and, collection truck contractors, Cleanaway on Thursday to discuss the problem as well as any possible solutions.

"Every time a needle comes along the conveyor belt we have to stop operations while a supervisor disposes of it," Mr Murphy said.

"When the belt stops the entire facility stops, so now if we get more than 30 in one truck we are rejecting the whole load."

The Leader did contact Moree Shire Council on Friday, however they did not respond to requests for comment.

At the meeting on Thursday it was decided that more education is the obvious solution, however to target the problem areas the Moree and Gwydir trucks are now going to be sorted separately, and audited for needles and other non-recyclable materials.

"We can even tell which truck has been to which exact areas, streets and neighbourhoods," Mr Murphy said.

"I don't want to judge people and the reasons they are using needles, but I just ask they dispose of them safely, or in the normal garbage, because they are putting a lot of people at risk."