It has become a regular occurrence in North Bay to find dirty needles left haphazardly in many areas of our city but there is still some confusion over the next steps to take to keep the community healthy and safe.
See related: 'I'm terrified to swim' Needles creating danger at North Bay beach
The City of North Bay has been sharing disposal advice on its social channels.
What should you do if you come across a discarded sharp?
If you find a discarded sharp (such as a needle or syringe) in a public place, such as in a park, on a trail or a sidewalk, and are uncomfortable disposing of it, contact the City of North Bay’s Public Works Dispatch at 705-474-4340 to have staff collect it. You will be asked to provide the object's location and your contact information. You can also report discarded sharps online during business hours. Service requests are addressed daily from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and after-hours calls are handled case-by-case or the next business day.
See also: $100K rake to keep local beaches clean and needle-free
Alternatively, you can dispose of any discarded materials found in a public or private setting yourself. The City of North Bay also advises property owners they are responsible for the safe disposal of sharps found on private property.
According to the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, knowing how to safely pick up and dispose of a sharp can help to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Follow the Health Unit's steps to safely handle and dispose of a sharp. The Health Unit recommends getting hard-sided containers from home (such as a pop bottle or laundry container with a lid) or picking up a free biohazard container from a participating pharmacy.
For more guidelines from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, click here.
See: As snow melts, watch out for needles says Health Unit
"Improperly discarded needles, glass pipes and other sharps have been identified as a serious concern in our community," according to the Health Unit website. "Keeping our region safe is everyone's responsibility."
Still, the Health Unit operates on the "harm reduction principle of providing clients with an adequate amount of sterile needles to meet their requirements for safe injecting. The main goal of this program is to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, primarily HIV and Hepatitis C, and minimize the risks associated with substance use in the greater community."
See: Decision on future of community sharps bin in the works
The Health Unit says it educates all individuals who use on how to dispose of needles safely and the risks of failing to do so. They are provided with sharps containers and information on various disposal locations. The Health Unit encourages harm reduction clients to return their supplies directly to the program.
