An Orillia city councillor is concerned about the presence of needles at local beaches.
Coun. Jay Fallis said a constituent recently told him that a child found a discarded needle at a city playground.
For Fallis, it was a feeling of deja vu.
“When I was very young, I remember very vividly playing in a sandbox at a playground with my sister,” Fallis told his council colleagues at a recent virtual meeting.
He recalled how his sister found a broken needle and how his mom quickly removed them from the situation.
“We learned how serious this was and the health implications,” said Fallis.
Those memories were rekindled by the local family’s similar experience a few weeks ago.
As a result, he began doing some research.
“I have become aware of many instances across the city of this occurring,” he said. “The implications, of course, are very serious.”
While he conceded the city “can’t prevent every single needle from being in the wrong place,” he said installing disposable bins in local parks “could be a very meaningful way to help address the situation.”
His council colleagues agreed and the majority lent their support to ask staff to look into the matter and report back with options.
Fallis would like to seek “sharps” disposal bins placed at Couchiching Beach and Tudhope Park - likely in bathrooms - and, possibly, other busy parks.
“Sharps” is a medical term for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin.
Andrew Schell, the city’s director of environmental services and operations, said he could see the “validity of the request.”
However, he also told councillors that sharps containers are typically not very “protective,” noting they have been, in the past, broken apart and damaged.
“That could create more of a potential problem,” he said, explaining needles could then be emptied out and become a danger to children.
He also said city staff have sharps containers in their vehicles “so parks staff can pick them up while doing maintenance” in the parks.
Coun. Ralph Cipolla said he recently saw needles behind the Aquatheatre, but wondered if the idea was a worthwhile one.
Coun. Tim Lauer countered that the request is to simply ask staff to look into the matter. He said staff is not being asked to “solve the issue” but to “do some research” and provide council with a report.
“I think it’s an important question,” said Lauer.
Councillors agreed. A report will come back to city council at a later date.
