The New York “daisy” model of syringe disposal structures.
Fewer syringes in public spaces.
That’s the goal of a one-year program renewal approved by the Board of Alders at their latest monthly meeting at City Hall Monday night.
The Board of Alders voted unanimously to allow the Elicker administration to enter into a syringe-cleanup contract for the second year in a row with the Yale School of Medicine.
Under the contract, the city would pay $25,000 to the Yale School of Medicine to “clean up and dispose of syringe litter found in public spaces, as well as empty and dispose of syringes from sharps containers located in public spaces,” according to a letter written by city Health Director Maritza Bond to Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers in support of the proposal.
“We look forward to the continuation of this successful program. This partnership helps us ensure the health and safety of residents,” Bond wrote.
This is the second year of city funding approved for the syringe pick-up program. Last year, the program received $20,000. In the first year of the program, the Health Department has seen approximately 250 syringes collected per quarter, Public Health Educator Becky Rubenstein told the Independent.
“There’s all these different pieces to harm reduction,” Fair Haven Alder Sarah Miller said in support of the syringe-pickup program after Monday’s vote.
She described this program’s contract renewal as “complementary” to a soon-to-open “engagement center” on Grand Avenue, where community organizations will be able to provide support to those in need of housing, medical care, or just an escape from the heat and access to a bathroom.