Health Department to install needle depository at Community Missions

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Community Missions will be receiving new equipment from the St. Joseph Health Department.

At a previous City Council meeting, a location and maintenance agreement to install a secure needle depository box was announced between Community Missions and the Health Department.

The purpose of the box is lower health hazards and risks associated from needles by having a safe disposal container for all needles and sharp objects. 

"The idea (behind) implementing the safe disposal program is to reduce the public health hazard and really the blight that it causes when sharps are improperly disposed of," Assistant Health Director Kendra Bundy said. "If you add a receptacle, maybe people will use it if it's available to them."

The hope is the implementation of the depository box at Community Missions will be the first of more to come around St. Joseph.

"We're really hoping that this has a good, positive impact in the community and it's well received," Bundy said. "We're definitely going to try it out and see how it goes. If it is successful in that location, we will look at placing additional units throughout the city to better serve the community in different areas."

For additional questions visit the St. Joseph Health Departments website.