New round-the-clock needle collection service launched for Leeds

Gildersome based Connaught Partnerships Ltd has launched a new free of charge service to collect and safely dispose of needles and sharps objects discarded in Leeds.

The Connaught Needle Alert service will operate for an initial 12 week period until January 11th 2010 with a specialist team providing a 24-hours-a-day collection service for sharps objects anywhere within the Leeds boundary.

Anyone who finds a discarded needle can ring the Needle Alert hotline on 0113 204 6630 and a team of fully trained, dedicated operatives wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will attend within two hours of the call being logged, 24 hours a day.

Andrew Corless, Northern Regional Director for Connaught Partnerships, said: “Discarded needles are a particularly unwelcome waste and it can be exceptionally worrying for parents when they are found in areas frequented by young children. Connaught has launched this service to compliment the existing needle collection services in Leeds and with our commitment to collect sharps objects from anywhere in the city 24 hours a day this will help significantly reduce the risk of anybody coming into contact with needles.”

Every Education Leeds school in the area has been sent a poster to remind staff and pupils of the service while the Needle Alert team will also be visiting schools to further highlight Connaught’s availability to collect and safely remove any sharps objects.

Connaught is currently working in partnership with West Yorkshire Police and Education Leeds to provide repairs and maintenance services in addition to improvements and repairs to council house properties managed by West North West Homes Leeds, Aire Valley Homes Leeds and East North East Homes Leeds.