City of Charlottetown getting 2 more safe-disposal boxes for needles

The City of Charlottetown is part of a pilot project to add two more safe-disposals to the city, but some city councillors wonder how effective they will be.

"The City of Charlottetown has our staff and every day picking up needles and, you know, paraphernalia and other debris and other materials that are left over," said Charlottetown parks and recreation chair Coun. Mitchell Tweel following the meeting.

"We'll see how it unfolds."

The pilot is a collaboration between the province and the parks and recreation department.

Council didn't vote on the disposal boxes. City staff told parks and recreation staff that the pilot project would be moving forward at their last committee meeting. The disposal boxes will be at Joe Ghiz Park and on the Confederation Trail, near the Park Street Emergency Shelter.

Tweel wants the province to foot the bill for city staff cleaning up needles in the city, he said, adding the outreach centre is a provincial facility.

He said he has reservations about the whole pilot project.

"I got a mixed reaction to be honest with you," Tweel said.

"I do have grave concerns because it is buying into a strategy I am not sure works."

Over the last several months Tweel has questioned who gave permission to non-governmental organizations to provide clean needles in the community.

"The city is polluted with needles," Tweel said.

At the end of August an eight-year-old was pricked by a used needle in Hillsborough Square.

According to the PEERS Alliance website, the organization has partnered with the Provincial Needle Exchange Program and the Community Outreach Centre to increase access to sterile injection equipment. Community members can also drop-off used injection equipment and other drug paraphernalia there for safe disposal.

PEERS Alliance also offers naloxone kits and drug testing strips to check for the presence of fentanyl.