By Angela Hill

Garbage clogs up needle disposal

Jul 29, 2011 | 6:23 AM

Lately when harm reduction staff go out to check the yellow needle drop bins, they are finding more than used syringes.

“Lots of garbage, take out containers, styrofoam, cardboard, Tim Hortons cups,” said Megan Belanger, program co-ordinator for The Straight to the Point Harm Reduction Program in the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.

This is causing a problem, because not only does staff has to remove the garbage, the bins are becoming jammed, she said.

The inside each of needle disposal boxes is like a mail box — when a needle is put in, it slides down the chutes into a collection bin at the bottom.

“So when garbage is thrown in there, the chutes get clogged and there is no other way to clean out the chutes other than to reach in there and have to pull out the garbage,” Belanger said.

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Even while wearing protective gear, it’s not very safe, she said.

In one case the jam, caused by a folded up cardboard box shoved into the bin, was so complete that it completely blocked the chute, Belanger said.

When she approached the bin there were needles nearby, she said initially she was frustrated, but when she saw it was blocked she understood why.

“They maybe tried to, but the bin was so full of garbage, they couldn’t even dispose of their needles properly, so it’s kind of defeating the purpose. If people keep using them as garbage cans, where are the needles supposed to go when people are actually trying to properly dispose of them.”

Belanger ended up removing two full bags of garbage from the bin.

“Had the garbage had not been in there, (it) wouldn’t have been a problem at all,” she said.

“Yes, it’s good that people are not just leaving (garbage) on the street, but at the same time the needle bins are not a garbage can.”

To this end, the health region is working with the city to find solutions.

“We’re going to assist them in trying to mitigate issues of garbage going in to the needle drop off bins,” said Greg Zeeben, director of community services.

Staff plan on getting change in place as soon as possible, he said.

These changes could include installing more garbage cans along the river bank, leaving the needle bins for their intended purpose.

“Let’s use those bins properly, and that’s not just for people in the needle exchange program, that’s for the general public as well,” Belanger said.

ahill@panow.com