Eureka council to consider offering free sharps containers to public

EUREKA – To combat the growing number of discarded needles, Eureka Council will consider distributing sharps containers at city-owned facilities.
Staff will ask council to approve a new program that would offer the free sharps containers at the police department, city hall and all fire departments to name just a few of the proposed locations.
Those containers could then be dropped off for free at Humboldt Waste Management Authority.
Staff evaluated the feasibility of installing needle disposal kiosks similar to the ones DHHS installed in December. That was found to be fiscally burdensome and would require compliance with numerous state regulations.
City Manager Greg Sparks said this is only a part of the solution and added that the city is still looking to reduce the overall number of needles on the streets.
The program will be implemented within a few weeks, if approved. The meeting is Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Eureka City Hall.