Portland Officials Install Biohazard Drop Boxes for Used Syringes

Local officials are trying a new approach to addressing the health risks of intravenous drug use on Portland streets: biohazard drop boxes in public spaces with lots of homeless campsites.

This month, the Multnomah County Health Department and the city of Portland launched a yearlong experimental project, "Healthy Streets," to reduce sharing and improper disposal of used syringes in prominent areas downtown.

Two bins have been installed, one under the Burnside Bridge near Tom McCall Waterfront Park and another on the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade near Southeast Salmon Street.

The bins look similar to large mailboxes, though clearly marked with biohazardous waste symbols.

The drop boxes are reinforced to ensure safety and protect against vandalism. A biohazard company will check the boxes twice a week until they know how often the boxes need to be emptied.

Kim Toevs of the county health department says installation of the drop boxes is a "more proactive approach" than efforts of the past.

Toevs says the project was spurred by homeless camps near the west end of the Burnside Bridge. The city had to clean there often to prevent needles from ending up in the river.

"The response to the project has been very positive," Toevs says. "People are interested in using the boxes and are glad they are there."

Officials have no plans to install more drop boxes. The health department will monitor the use of the two boxes to determine whether other areas of Portland might benefit as well.

The health department has long provided a syringe exchange, trading sterile needles for used ones to ensure proper disposal. This has decreased the rate of infections, such as HIV and hepatitis C, among illegal drug users.

But people who carry all their belongings often cannot wait to dispose of syringes at a once-weekly exchange—out of fear of police search or for other reasons. The ease of use and anonymity of the drop boxes may remedy this problem.

Many major cities have implemented similar exchange programs and installed drop boxes. These resources have been proven to significantly decrease the spread of blood-borne diseases and keep the streets clean.

Willamette Week