You’ll often find Rylan Mckenney kayaking down the South Saskatchewan River.

It used to be for leisure, but now he’s on a mission to make the water and the community safer.

A month ago he organized a clean-up where he and a team of roughly 10 others collected 25 bags of garbage.

“I think we hauled about 500 pounds out of the river in just a couple of hours,” Mckenney said.

He said he found the usual suspects - bottles, alcohol, and fast food containers - but on Tuesday he made a different discovery.

“I’d bet you 20 needles in a fairly short stretch and homeless camps, so it’s not just an eye sore it’s dangerous right,” he said.

Just steps away from the Vimy Memorial CTV News found at least a dozen needles, spoons with white powdery substances, alcohol wipes and what appears to be a make-shift shelter.

Needles are picked up by the Saskatoon Fire Department and the public health region. Two firefighters in a designated van respond to reports of sharps.

Saskatoon Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Rodger said the department averages roughly 1,500 to 2,000 calls a year.

“Our mapping and our stats show us it could be anywhere,” Rodger said.

Needles can be disposed at 12 needle drop box locations across the city and outside of the nine fire stations.

If you find a needle, the City of Saskatoon has steps it would like you to follow:

  • Do not recap the needle.
  • Wear garden, work or medical gloves.
  • Use tweezers, pliers or tongs to pick up by the end that is not the sharp end. Keep away from your body.
  • Place the needle, sharp end first, into a hard container that needles cannot poke through (e.g. liquid laundry detergent or bleach container).
  • Fill a container no more than 3/4 full. If the container is too full, the needles may poke through the side.
  • Put the container lid on tightly and tape it.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Store the container in a safe place away from children until you can dispose of it safely.
  • Do not place needles in city garbage or recycling.
  • Place in a needle drop box in your community. Call 306-655-4444 for needle drop box locations or view the Needle Safe Brochure.
  • Call 306-655-4664 if you do not have these clean-up items.