Vincent Ponce is a mail carrier in Troy. While delivering mail a long his route in Lansingburgh, he nearly slipped on a needle that was left on the ground.

Since that day Ponce has noticed several other needles left along his routes.

“Seeing unsupervised kids around day-to-day that’s what made me feel a certain way about it,” said Ponce.

When it comes to safely disposing needles, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends putting them in a sharps container immediately after use. They should also be thrown out separately from household trash.

For more information the FDA provides a list of drop off locations in the Capital Region.