Officials: Needle disposal a problem

GREENFIELD — Before any of the drama unfolded in the Town Council debate about needle exchanges this week, some common ground emerged on the need for more ways to safely disposal of needles, particularly at pharmacies that sell them.

Council Vice President Isaac Mass, who that night abandoned his proposal to regulate needle exchange services, pointed to a need for safer needle disposal, a proposal widely approved by health experts and many town councilors.

Given the extent of the current national opioid addiction epidemic, most everyone agreed that sharps disposal is a problem in town and that they have to collectively think of a plan of action to address it — although no concrete decisions were introduced Wednesday.

“The whole community has been brought into this conversation,” Mass said. “No one has disagreed about the improper disposal of hypodermic needles.”

Councilors, members of the regional Opioid Task Force and needle exchange operator Tapestry, formerly Tapestry Health, agreed that something needs to be done to make disposing of needles more accessible for people across town.