New needle bins installed across Peterborough to tackle drug litter
The new bins bring the total across the city to 15, which have already collected more than 2,600 needles since 2019
Five new needle bins have been installed in Peterborough as part of a drive to reduce discarded drug-related litter and improve community safety.
The new bins bring the total across the city to 15, which have already collected more than 2,600 needles since 2019 — preventing them from ending up on the streets.
The installations follow a successful bid to the Safer Communities Fund and were placed in locations identified using data on reported needle finds. The new sites are:
- Boulevard cycle path / Taverners roundabout
- Bourges Boulevard near English Street
- Gladstone Park
- Lincoln Road subway
- The Embankment
Each bin is securely locked, has a large capacity and is emptied approximately every two months by the council’s waste contractor, Aragon Direct Services.
The initiative is being delivered by Peterborough City Council in partnership with Cambridgeshire Police, local drug support charity Aspire, and community campaigners.
Councillor Zameer Ali, Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty and Public Health, said: “Discarded needles are not a problem unique to Peterborough, but they continue to be a common site in some areas of the city.
"We’ve installed these new bins as part of our work to develop strong and sustainable communities and help ensure public safety.
“Our needle bins continue to be well-used preventing dangerous drugs paraphernalia from ending up on the streets, potentially coming into contact with children or vulnerable residents.
"We would encourage users to make use of the needle bins and ask members of the public to continue to report any finds to us.”
Residents are reminded never to touch or pick up needles or other drug paraphernalia.
Instead, they should report any finds directly to the council.