Northumberland Has Three Needle Disposal Bins

By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit has partnered with the Peterborough AIDS Resource Network, John Howard Society, Greenwood Coalition, Community Living Campbellford/Brighton, the Town of Cobourg and several other municipal partners to choose several new 24-hour Needle Disposal Bin locations in both Northumberland and Haliburton Counties and the City of Kawartha Lakes.

In Northumberland, there are three locations

• In Port Hope at the health unit office at 200 Rose Glen Rd. (by the back entrance)
• In Cobourg at washroom/bus shelter building at 35 Albert St. in the Rotary Harbourfront Park (on the south side of the building, facing the parking lot)
• In Campbellford at the Community Living Campbellford/Brighton building at 65 Bridge St. E. (at the building’s back door, facing the parking lot)

“When needle-disposal bins are located in convenient and accessible locations, there will be fewer needles found in parks and public spaces, making it safer for everyone,” PARN Harm Reduction Outreach Worker Katlin Archibald said in the announcement.

“This in turn, reduces the risk of transmission of infections to community members through contact with needles.”

In the event someone finds a needle, the health unit reminds you of some important information to keep in mind.

• Never put any container with needles into the garbage or recycling bin.
• Look up where you can dispose of needles safely in your community at https://ohrdp.ca/find-supplies/
• Call the PARN mobile outreach at 705-559-3904 for information about safe needle clean-up or to arrange needle pick-up and disposal.(personal bio bins are also available).

These bins are part of the Needle Exchange Program, which provides the necessary equipment to help prevent the spread of blood-borne infections such as HIV and Hepatitis C. The health unit began it in 2008 with such community partners as PARN and the John Howard Society to ensure safe access to a variety of harm-reduction programs within the HKPR region, Healthy Communities Public Health Nurse Leslie McLaughlin said