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Close to 20,000 needles collected in drop-off bins at Hamilton parks
The City of Hamilton says close to 20,000 needles have been disposed of in drop-off bins in lower city parks.
The program began at the end of 2019, following a surge in complaints about improperly discarded syringes.
Collection bins were placed in seven parks in the lower city.
Between Jan. 1 and July, the city says 19,729 needles were dropped off here.
- Beasley Park – 1,983
- Cathedral Park – 3,514
- J.C. Beemer Park – 4,866
- Jackie Washington Park – 219
- John Rebecca – 7,120
- Victoria Park – 802
- Woodland Park – 1,225
The numbers are a positive trend going forward, says Michelle Baird, director of epidemiology, wellness and communicable disease control at the City of Hamilton.
The total doesn’t include the collection bin outside First Ontario Centre, which was added when it became a temporary shelter for the homeless.
It has now been removed but Baird says that bin had been “well used.”
The city is looking at adding more collection bins at the end of the year.
Our Jason Gaidola will have more on this story tonight at 6 p.m.
