Kin Beach

Image Credit: Okanagan Indian Band

VERNON - Two large needle drop boxes scheduled to be installed in Polson Park in the coming weeks as part of an effort to curb the ongoing issue of discarded syringes littering the city.

City of Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund confirmed the sharp boxes had been received from B.C. Interior Health and would be installed soon. Mund also said council is looking at the possibility of installing more drop boxes in prominent places around Vernon at the city's expense, but stressed the bins don't solve the issue.

"Drop boxes are only good if people choose to use them," said Mund "It's like litter, just because there are garbage cans everywhere you still find litter on the streets."

Mund said he understood residents concerns regarding the issue of discarded needles but stressed the problem was not just a restricted to Vernon adding, "It's prevalent across every community in North America."

The news of the new sharp bins comes just days after Vernon resident Ashley Irving stepped on a needle while at Kin Beach with her husband and three young children.

Irving said her "heart sank" when she realized she'd stepped on a needle buried in the sand on July 14. The incident took place on the part of the beach owned by the Okanagan Indian Band and not the city. The band said in a press release they are currently having discussions with the city regarding the cleaning of the beach.

Mayor Mund said as the city had the equipment he hoped an agreement could be made soon with the band to clean-up their section of the beach. He confirmed the city-owned section of Kin Beach receives a "deep clean" every two-weeks, and although the machines that clean the sand dig four to six inches deep, needles could still be present even after a clean.

The mayor also said Polson Park has its garbage bins emptied daily and staff look for litter in the park, but that residents had to use their "due diligence" when in public places.

With the issue of discarded needles — a complex one — Sunrise Pharmacy in Penticton has recently launched its own program. The pharmacy now offers five cents for any needle returned to the drug store. But Mayor Mund said he wasn't sure he would encourage the same system in Vernon, citing concerns people may break into the boxes to then return the used needles for cash.

Irving said she already wouldn't take her children to the city's splash park or Polson Park because of fear of needles and now wouldn't be going back to Kin Beach. Irving said she was told by healthcare professionals that the risk of infection from the needle was very low, but will still need to have ongoing blood tests for the next nine months.

The two sharp bins slated for Polson Park will be available for use 24 hours a day. A drop box does currently exists in the public washrooms, which is locked at 8 p.m. each day. The mayor said residents who discover discarded needles should call the city's bylaw department straight away. The phone number is 250-550-3505.

Find out what you need to know when you find discarded needles here.

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