City staff against needle buyback program in Vernon

The prospect of a needle buyback program in Vernon is unlikely if city staff members get their way.

In a report to council, staff recommended against the program but to continue the Folks on Spokes program instead.

Staff argue that the Folks on Spokes program, which operates on an on-call basis between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. five days a week is “financially prudent and as well as an effective use of time.”

The program cost taxpayers $11,245 since launching in April and in that time 38 calls were made and 161 sharps have been collected by the Folks on Spokes crew.

City Staff asked council to consider a $27,540 service level adjustment in next year’s 2020 budget.

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Failed programs

The idea of a needle buyback program was brought forward as a recommendation by the Activate Safety Task Force in 2018.

The Activate Safety Task force referenced the buyback programs in Kamloops and Penticton. Since the presentation last year, both programs collapsed.

“Neither the cities of Kamloops or Penticton needle buyback programs have continued to operate in 2019,” Rachel Zubick, community safety and public programs coordinator, said in her report.

In Kamloops, the program stopped operating after the municipal election and is now carried out by the ASK Wellness Needle Hotline and the Downtown and North Shore Customer Care and xPatrol teams in the summer.

Not many details were provided surrounding the discontinuation of the Penticton needle buyback program other than a news article that stated the program stopped operating in 2018.

Councillors are expected to discuss the buyback program at their next meeting on Sept. 16.