For its size and its bright yellow colou, a new disposal bin for used hypodermic needles is rather inconspicuous. It’s right next to the machine where you pay for parking in the lot on Algonquin Boulevard, between Cedar and Balsam.
Porcupine Health Unit infectious diseases manager Lynn Leggett says it’s a way to reduce the number of needles – or “sharps” – left lying on the ground.
“We’ve partnered with the City of Timmins,” she says. “So we’ve been looking since about 2016 at sharps that the city has found discarded in the community.”
“We’ve had an outdoor bin here at the Porcupine Health Unit for over a year on Pine Street and it’s been quite successful for people returning sharps after hours. Once we saw that that was working, we thought well maybe providing it at other locations as well would be of help.”
Leggett adds that it’s still a good idea for parents to talk to their children about not touching any used hypodermic needles they see on the ground.