Sudbury Cleans Up: 12,000 Needles Removed by Peers

In Greater Sudbury, the Go-Give Project has made significant strides in community safety through its peer-led needle recovery program. Since its inception in January 2025, peers have collected approximately 12,000 used needles, with daily pickups often exceeding 100.

This initiative, a collaboration with the City of Greater Sudbury, engages individuals with lived experience to collect discarded needles. Participants gain valuable skills, build confidence, and establish routine and responsibility. The program sees extensive activity, with peers conducting multiple shifts daily, recovering over 1,000 needles monthly, peaking at nearly 4,000 in April.

Health officials emphasize the importance of such programs in reducing the risk of infections from discarded needles, though the risk is considered low. The Go-Give Project's contract with the city is set to continue until the end of 2027, with ongoing efforts to identify and clean up needle disposal sites across the city.