New Pilot Program for Sharps Disposal Boxes

There is a new pilot program in partnership between Multnomah County, City of Portland, Metro, and TriMet and Downtown Clean & Safe to respond to community concerns about syringe waste.  Syringe waste is one symptom of a complex set of issues related to livability that intersect with each of the jurisdictions. In early 2019, the pilot program will be adding 15 new Sharps Disposal Boxes (SDBs) across the city — for a total of 18 SDBs.  SDBs are about the size of a mailbox and provide a place for neighbors to safely and conveniently dispose of found syringes, which can not be thrown into a regular garbage can.

One of these boxes will be located at the Holgate Library parking lot. Please note that the SDB is not a program of the Multnomah County Library.

The agencies are hoping that convenient SDB locations will reduce carelessly discarded syringes, as well as help neighbors who are cleaning up their community to safely dispose of this waste. They have also launched a separate pilot program to provide neighbors with free small disposable sharps containers that can be placed into the larger disposal boxes.  “How to” videos and FAQs on safe syringe disposal as well as more information on these programs can be found on Multnomah County’s new syringe disposal web site.

The participating agencies will evaluate the effectiveness of the SDB program on reducing syringe waste, and they will be reaching back out to your Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association once the box is in place to get feedback.

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