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Health Commission approves $916,907 contract with San Francisco AIDS Foundation for citywide syringe cleanup
Summary
The Health Commission unanimously approved a $916,907 DPH contract to fund a San Francisco AIDS Foundation syringe cleanup program that will hire 10 staff, operate a branded van and respond to 311 requests for needle removal; the committee recommended approval.
The San Francisco Health Commission approved a contract with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to fund a syringe cleanup program intended to remove used needles from public spaces.
Tracy Packer, director of Community Health Equity and Promotion for DPH, said the $916,907 contract will support hiring 10 staff, a startup period through the remainder of the fiscal year, and purchase of a branded van to transport staff and biohazard waste. “By the end of August we expect to be fully staffed and fully operational,” John Melicar, who oversees contracts, told the commission.
Packer said the cleanup teams will be accessible through 311 and will focus on collecting syringes from neighborhoods, not on engaging people in treatment. The committee recommended the contract unanimously, and commissioners approved it by voice vote without further discussion.
The presentation noted crossover with other city teams to remove needles and a startup/branding plan to provide neighborhood visibility for the program. DPH staff and the committee described the program as an expansion of prior syringe access and disposal efforts.
