Pilot project will see city picking up used needles in Timmins
Starting May 1, residents can call the City of Timmins if they want someone to collect used needles.
In a news release Thursday, the city said the goal is to simplify the process.
“Residents can call Service Timmins Monday to Friday during regular business hours, to have public works carry out collection,” the release said.
“Reports can also be made online through the Service Timmins customer portal.”
The service is part of a pilot project to address drug-related litter, after city council asked staff to explore if municipal collection was feasible.
“Discussions around safe needle pick-up started last July,” Meagan Baranyk, the city’s community programs manager, is quoted as saying in a news release.
“Collection was being completed by several local agencies, but without specific funding or direction, it was sometimes case-by-case, and resulted in some confusion around who to call. Our pilot project will test the capacity of public works to carry out collection on public property, with Service Timmins coordinating response.”
However, municipal staff don’t have the authority to enter private property for the purpose of collecting discarded needles or syringes.
“The service is available for public property only, such as municipal parks, trails, sidewalks, boulevards, and roadways,” the release said.
Collection is also limited to weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sharps reported over the weekend through the customer service portal will be addressed on the next available business day.
“Collaboration with local agencies and outreach will continue, to help address gaps in the collection schedule,” Baranyk added in the news release.
“This is a starting point. We will be collecting data around how many sharps are collected, from which areas, and how effective our response is. We are aware that the hours are limited; however, there is a commitment to monitoring and adjusting the hours as needed.”
Starting May 1, residents can request needle or syringe pick up by calling Service Timmins at 705-264-1331 or online under roads and sidewalks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.