(file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Tyler Marr

SHARP RISE

Solutions for spike in needle pickups being investigated

Jun 28, 2019 | 5:29 PM

In 2014, the fire department picked up just 54 needles around North Battleford. But over 8,300 have already been collected this year.

The spike in pickups has spurred public health and fire department officials to find solutions to the prickly problem.

Deputy Fire Chief Lindsay Holm told city lawmakers over 3,500 needles were found during one call in May at the recycling centre. The needles, he said, were likely put in blue bins and didn’t rule out that some came in from out of town.

He said the staff at the centre picked the needles out as they sorted products and set them aside, which allowed them to accumulate and resulted in the mass pickup. He said he spoke with the recycling centre and recommended they have a drop box similar to other organizations and commission a company to come collect them.

“This is a new thing I don’t think they have dealt with a lot,” he said.

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The number of needle pickups the department contends with has continued to rise drastically over the last four years. In 2015, 595 pickups were logged. The number rocketed to 5,300 the year later but fell sharply in 2017 with just 667. However, pickups rose again in 2018 to 5,300, Holm said.

Through conversations with SaskHealth officials, Holms said harm reduction strategists are working on initiatives he believes will help mitigate the climb. He recommended adding more disposal boxes around the city where a growing number of needles are being improperly disposed. Other methods to alleviate the problem in cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Red Deer are being watched.

“[North Battleford is] kind of lagging behind some of the bigger centres so there are some good initiatives that are out there,” Holm said. “I think we are going to be able to formulate some plans in terms of how to deal with the spike we are seeing right now.”

After the meeting, Mayor Ryan Bater said the issue is one not isolated to North Battleford and stressed how public safety is of utmost concern.

He again urged residents using needles for medical or other purposes to take advantage of the safe disposal bins for the betterment of everyone.

Asked if he had a preferred remedy to the situation Bater simply said he wants to see it fixed.

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr