More needles on beaches

People burying their heads in the sand over proper waste disposal etiquette are leaving behind an increasing number of hypodermic needles while they are at it, a beach clean-up volunteer says.

Eighty volunteers collected an estimated 35,000 pieces of rubbish from Petone Beach in Lower Hutt on Sunday, and among the straws, fast food wrappers, bottle tops and plastic lollipop sticks were three syringes – two with exposed needles.

Clean-up organiser Lorraine Shaab said the number of needles being found by volunteers was disturbing.

In the two years she had been organising clean-ups, the group had gone from collecting about one needle every three months to up to four at every fortnightly event.

The medical waste posed more than just the threat of an unexpected jab – the transfer of blood-borne disease was also a possibility, she said.

The needles were a danger to volunteers and the public. ‘‘[Petone Beach] hums on a sunny day. There’s families, the rowing club and people walking their dogs. It’s not cool. Someone’s going to get stuck.’’

People taking part in the clean-up event were being told to be extra cautious.

The group had also found syringes and needles at Seaview and Evans Bay.

Shaab said the amount of rubbish, particularly plastic waste, around the harbour was increasing. Not only was there more rubbish washing up on the beach but the group had noticed more fast-food wrappers and alcohol containers being dumped by people parking up to admire the views.

‘‘There’s a culture of muppets throwing things out their [car] windows.’’