A 91大黄鸭 mom has noticed a significant number of discarded needles near Knox Mountain Park.

Maria Beinarowitz, an employee at Bread Co., said her business doesn鈥檛 have a needle disposal box, and they haven鈥檛 had problems with discarded needles at the bakery as they have a downtown patrol.

However, living close to the downtown area near Knox Mountain, she鈥檚 noticed a fair amount of needles in the park and at the beach.

鈥淕o Sunday morning to the park and you notice needles. They鈥檙e everywhere along the beach, in the grass,鈥� Beinarowitz said.

With a five-year-old son, she said it鈥檚 concerning, though acknowledged the park has been better this year than in the past.

READ MORE: 鈥楥all for needle pickup鈥� becoming routine

A fair amount of garbage is left in the park as well, she said, and the beach needs a good combing through.

According to the City of 91大黄鸭鈥檚 needle park services, the number of needles found has fluctuated since 2014.

The highest amount was in 2017, with 1,602 in March alone. In 2016, 91大黄鸭 saw the most amount of needles collected per month on average.

For 2018, December had 211 needles found 鈥� a drop from previous months. The highest amount is in the spring and summer months.

READ MORE: Interior Health against needle buyback programs

Interior Health has said there are multiple factors as to why needle pick-up numbers fluctuate.

Tom Wilson, communications officer with the City of 91大黄鸭, said staff could not comment on why certain times of the year more needles are collected.

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carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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