Group needed in Greater Sudbury to clean up discarded needles

A Sudbury councillor will present a motion next week calling for increased education and solutions regarding discarded needles.

Ward 5 Coun. Mike Parent said he’s looking for support to come up with a plan now that the organization that used to pick up the needles has folded.

The Sudbury Action Centre for Youth (SACY) used to clean up needles found in the community, but SACY closed in March.

"We're finding needles in popular walking trails, in parks and gardens, public washrooms and other conspicuous locations," Parent said.

"I was and there were needles in the areas where kids were playing."

While there are drop-off bins across the city, and some organizations offer needle drop-off services, there currently isn't an organization tasked to pick up used needles.

In a statement, the City of Greater Sudbury said it is "currently working to find a new provider to collect discarded needles.

“The city is in the process of initiating a public procurement process for a new provider in the immediate future. In the interim, the city is establishing a short-term contract with a provider to meet this gap."

Parent said he's heard from residents who found needles in their backyards.

"I've heard from other communities now outside of the downtown finding more needles, and more concerns, complaints from residents is finding them on their properties," he said.

Parent added he wants to find a balanced, collaborative approach.

"We want to engage with the users and ensure there's proper education and they understand the risk it can pose to others and involve them more in the solutions," he said.

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"That it's not just left to someone contracted to do the work, that we tackle this as a community."

Parent will be presenting the motion at city council on Tuesday.