Needle drop boxes coming to parks, trails across Guelph

The City of Guelph will install new community sharps drop boxes in nine new locations throughout the municipality.

It’s all in the hope of adding further safety to local trails and parks across Guelph, which has continued to see hazardous needles left in public areas.

“Community sharps drop boxes are a safe and effective way to help reduce the number of needles left in public spaces, by offering convenient access to a bin designed for items that can pose a health risk if disposed of improperly,” Gene Mattews, former general manager of parks with the City of Guelph, said.

Parks staff have worked alongside Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health to narrow down which locations across the city need those new drop boxes, working to find which key areas were consistently getting reports of stray needles.

“People in our community use needles for a variety of purposes,” said WDG Public Health on its website. “If you find a used needle, used medical waste, or drug paraphernalia, do not touch it directly and do not dispose in a recycling bin or trash can.”

“The boxes are supplied and emptied by WDG Public Health, with the City Parks department taking on the installation of the drop boxes as part of our standard park and trail maintenance efforts,” said Mattews.

While the installations are in the hope of reducing the overall number of needles being left in those public areas, WDG Public Health is still continuing to remind the public of the dangers of stray needles.

Sharps box areas include:

• York Road Park
• Northumberland Park
• Sunny Acres Park
• Herb Markle Park
• Suffolk Street Park
• Drew Park
• Allan’s Mill
• Silvercreek Trail near the Water Street meadow
• Guelph Public Library, Main Library

It said education is important on the issue as a whole, along with what steps need to be taken, should someone find one.

“If a needle injury occurs, wash the area well with soap and water,” said WDG Public Health. “Allow the wound to bleed freely and do not apply pressure to the wound. Seek immediate medical attention at your local emergency department.”

More information about needle and sharps safety, along with the full details on the community sharps drop boxes, can be found on the WDG Public Health website.