St. John's city councillor advocating for more safe disposal boxes after finding needles in public area

1 month_ago 25

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While doing a assemblage cleanable up, metropolis counsillor Greg Noseworthy astir walked into a needle sticking retired of a tree. He says much needles are showing up astir the city, and is informing the public. He is besides advocating for much disposal boxes.

Coun. Greg Noseworthy founds needles portion doing assemblage cleanup

Abby Cole · CBC News

· Posted: May 07, 2025 3:39 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

City of St. John's Coun. Greg Noseworthy was responding to a resident's telephone astir litter successful a wooded country adjacent Topsail Road, erstwhile helium astir walked into needles sticking retired of a tree.

"I was specified inches distant from having the needle poke myself, which could person been rather catastrophic," Noseworthy told CBC News connected Monday.

Noseworthy says helium hears astir needles littered successful areas each implicit the city, including Mundy Pond, Cowan Heights, Waterford Valley, Old Topsail Road and Water Street.

He says it's a superior information issue, and tin beryllium hazardous if idiosyncratic were to beryllium stuck by one.

And aft his adjacent brushwood with astir getting poked, Noseworthy wanted to rise awareness.

"All it takes is simply a scratch successful your tegument and you've got a superior infection," helium said.

Noseworthy says helium spoke to a pistillate recently, who was accidentally pricked by a needle and had to person treatment. The pistillate is present OK, helium said.

WATCH | This metropolis councillor says much needles boxes are needed:

A near-miss with a needle jammed successful a histrion is prompting a metropolis councillor to request much disposal sites

City of St. John’s Coun. Greg Noseworthy says helium was doing a parkland cleanup erstwhile helium got up-close with a needle successful an antithetic spot. He says residents archer him needles are much of a communal show and designated containers to dispose of them are needed. The CBC’s Abby Cole has more.

He advises against cleaning up needles if found, and says radical should telephone their metropolis councillor or telephone 311 to person a nonrecreational travel cleanable it up.

"I truly discourage radical from trying to woody with these things themselves," helium said. "If you are truthful compelled, marque definite you're utilizing tongs, gloves, [and a] due disposal box."

Safe disposal boxes

The metropolis has 13 containers placed successful antithetic areas for safe needle disposal. But, Noseworthy says determination should beryllium more.

"Addictions are becoming much prevalent," helium said. "It is simply a world that we person to look arsenic a society."

Man lasting successful beforehand of bridge

The Safe Works Access Program (SWAP), a Newfoundland and Labrador harm simplification group, is besides acrophobic astir harmless disposal.

In an emailed statement, SWAP's acting programme manager Anna Moulton said they volition beryllium gathering with Noseworthy connected Wednesday to sermon changes to the city's needle organisation programme to trim the prevalence of supplies successful nationalist areas.

SWAP besides provides escaped idiosyncratic disposal bins, and has a bin pick-up work truthful they tin decently dispose of them.

Noseworthy says helium is going to proceed advocating for much boxes to beryllium placed astir the city. He says prevention is key.

"We person to woody with what we person close now, and uncovering ways to assistance support the nationalist harmless is paramount," helium said.

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