Syringe Litter In Santa Cruz: County Has 'Obligation' To Address

SANTA CRUZ, CA — In an effort to deal with the problem of syringe litter in the city of Santa Cruz, council is likely to ask the county for four additional syringe disposal kiosks. The idea will be considered by council members during Tuesday's city council meeting.

The health hazard of syringe litter in the city of Santa Cruz is well documented. Between July 1, 2018 and May 15, 2019, the Santa Cruz Downtown Streets Team picked up nearly 6,000 syringes, according to city documents. In 2018 the city's Parks Department collected 4,171 needles, and in the first three months of 2019 the department collected another 795.

"The syringe litter problem has a public health impact and the county has an obligation to ensure that residents of Santa Cruz County can enjoy our parks, beaches and open spaces safe from potential danger of discarded needles," a city report read.

The city points to the county's Syringes Services Program, which dispensed over a million syringes from March 2017 through February 2019, and even though the program operates on a 1-for-1 exchange policy, the city believes the county has an obligation to address syringe litter.

If the county were to provide the city with more kiosks, it's likely the city will ask that all costs and labor related to the kiosks be paid for by the county. A number of smaller, secure, syringe disposal bins may also be appropriate in certain locations — installed and serviced at county expense, according to the city.

Additionally, the city is considering having zero "safe injection" sites in the city, and no additional syringe exchange sites (including mobile) without city council approval.