During budget talks in March, North Bay City Councillor Tanya Vrebosch pressed for answers on the feasibility and usage of the community sharps bin supported financially by the City of North Bay with up to $10,000 in funding annually.
"I've been asking for a few years now, what the numbers are [for its use]. I'm hoping we have an answer on that," Vrebosch said then.
The City of North Bay has been spending $10,000 per year since 2021 on the public sharps disposal bin located outside the Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing at 361 McIntyre St. E.
Vrebosch asked Brent Kalinowski, who is the facilitator of the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, how many needles were being disposed of in that bin and whether he thought it prudent to continue with the program.
Although he said he preferred to perform more audits, Kalinowski acknowledged his investigation to that point indicated the box was "not being used very much."
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"We gave it a shot," Vrebosch told her colleagues. "If it's not being used, I'd rather reallocate the $10,000 to something under the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan. I am a fan of the needle buy-back program."
The committee tasked Kalinowski in March to investigate the bin's usage further. During the most recent Community Safety and Well-Being committee meeting, Vrebosch and Kalinowski picked up the discussion from earlier this year. The committee learned between 30 and 50 sharps per month were deposited in the community bin over an audit of several months.
"It does beg the question, is that box in the right spot place? Kalinowski asked. "Can it be in another spot that would be more accessible or useful to those requiring its service?"
"I'm glad to see the monitoring," said Vrebosch. "It is very costly and I still think there are better ways to use $10,000 to pick up sharps in the community."
See also: City: Dirty needle disposal is property owner's responsibility
"The buy-back program," Vrebosch continued, "I'd love to revisit that. If you look at the data they have from that [former Health Unit] buy-back program versus what we're getting out of that bin now, there is bigger bang for our buck."
Kalinowski agreed to explore a buy-back program. "Perhaps this is a conversation to have with the Health Unit. I've talked to Dr. Zimbalatti about this very thing and she's willing to present on the harm reduction model and programs they follow and answer the questions you're asking."
Ian Kilgour noted he was involved when the transition from the buy-back program to the community sharps bin was underway. "The bins were going to be the solution. That's how they were sold. It's time for some analysis," he said.
"It's a good time to look at the buy-back program because it worked," Kilgour added. "There were some issues with it so they wanted to try something else. It's been about eight years, maybe there is a better way. Maybe it needs to be a combination of things."
Coun. Lana Mitchell agreed, saying, "The buy-back program is the way to go. Sometimes we look at things from our personal experiences, right, and we need to see the whole picture, evaluate it and figure out what makes the most sense."
BACKGROUND
After the needle buy-back program was discontinued by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit during the previous council term, then-Councillor Scott Robertson worked with Vrebosch at the committee level to find a solution. The cancelled program had offered one $5 gift card for groceries for every 100 used sharps, needles, or syringes.
In 2020, the Health Unit had community sharps bins ready for installation within the district and wanted to do so on municipally-owned land. A compromise was reached and the bin found a home on McIntyre Street East. The Health Unit also requested financial support for regular disposal of the contents of the sharps bin. The previously budgeted $10,000 for the buy-back program went toward the costs associated with maintaining the bin.
See also: Community sharps bin gets lukewarm reviews yet unanimous support
"When used sharps are discarded improperly, such as in recycling, garbage, or even in a public place, it is often the result of not having a place to properly dispose of them," reads a January 2021 news release from the Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing announcing the bin's placement. "Providing a place for people to safely discard sharps helps keep the community safer for everyone."
According to the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit website, community sharps bins are available at the Health Unit's Oak Street West offices and there is one accessible to the public stationed outside the AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area office at 147 McIntyre St. W.
