Joint Community Effort Launches Needle Disposal Pilot Project with Reporting Web App

The City of Kenora, in collaboration with the Northwestern Health Unit, Kenora Makwa Patrol, the All-Nations Health Partners-Ontario Health Team, Lake of the Woods District Hospital - Mental Health and Addictions Program, and Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig (WNHAC), is excited to announce the launch of a Needle Disposal Pilot Project for 2026.

This project, funded by the Northwestern Health Unit, will allow the public and service providers to use a web-based app to report the location of improperly disposed syringes. The goal is to reduce the amount of discarded needles in public spaces, expand harm-reduction supports, and create healthier neighbourhoods for everyone.

Community members can report discarded needles through ReportNeedles.ca, a tool originally developed for the AIDS Program South Saskatchewan, Inc. (APSS). This web-based app allows users to enter sightings of needles or related equipment and upload photos. It works on any internet browser, including smartphones. Alternatively, reports can be made by calling or texting 807-464-1966.

This initiative is part of the Community Safety & Well-Being Plan, which is overseen by the CSWB Plan Implementation Committee. The project supports Action 3.6, which aims to increase efforts to safely dispose of syringes that have been discarded in public spaces.

“When innovation meets compassion, technology becomes a tool for healing. This web app is not just mapping what’s discarded, it’s mapping a path to change and create cleaner streets and safer spaces for everyone,” expresses Christina Derendorf, Manager Kenora Makwa Patrol.

The Pilot Project will prioritize the downtown area of Kenora. While recognizing that there will always be some waste on the ground, the data collected by the tool will be used to inform decisions for outreach and coordination among service providers, including determining the best locations to place disposal containers.
“The project gives people the ability to communicate with us and will help increase the usage of resources more efficiently in dealing with what we know is a significant concern for the City,” says Donna Stanley, Northwestern Health Unit Director of Health Protection and Chief Nursing Officer.

This pilot project is an example of the importance of partnerships and collaboration which are central to the Community Safety and Well Being Plan. An evaluation at the end of the project in the fall of 2026 will determine future directions and potential program improvements.

Media contact

Mya Horley Senior Communications Advisor, City of Kenora
mhorley@kenora.ca
807-467-2006