More than 4300 syringes were found in public places across the ACT over the last financial year - but the figure has been falling steadily over the last three years.
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And Directions ACT says that falling trend is despite more syringes being distributed.
City rangers responded to 284 reports of syringes found in public places across Canberra last financial year, resulting in the collection of 4303 discarded and used syringes, according to the 2010-11 annual report for the Territory and Municipal Services directorate.
In 2009-10, there were 331 reports of syringes in public places and 4265 syringes collected.
In 2008-09, there were 504 reports of syringes in public places and 5595 syringes collected.
That meant there had been a 23per cent decrease in the number of syringes found in public places across the ACT in the last three years.
The directorate could not say exactly where the syringes had been found or pinpoint hotspots but said generally they had been found on footpaths, in parks and inside abandoned vehicles.
Directions ACT is a Canberra community health organisation which has facilitated the needle and syringe program in the ACT for 20 years.
Its president, Gerard Rees, said the number of syringes being distributed in Canberra was generally increasing - 90,000 in 2005, 111,220 in 2007, 106,210 in 2008 and 127,000 in 2009. ''To see a decrease in sharps reported in public places is encouraging,'' he said.
''I believe that education and information provided to the public around safe disposal ... [and] improved access to disposal facilities across Canberra has contributed to this decrease.''
Mr Rees said the average age of people accessing the needle and syringe program had increased over the last decade, with people aged 35 to 45 most likely to use the service.
He said older people might be ''more aware of their responsibilities to the community and the negative impact of improper disposal of equipment''.
TAMS' city rangers provide a 24 hour/seven days a week call-out service - via Canberra Connect on 132281 - to collect sharps.
They were trained in sharp collection and followed appropriate safety standards, a spokesman said.
They also conducted programs in schools to educate students on ''health and safety messages in regards to sharps''.
Meanwhile the number of vehicles being abandoned in the ACT appears to be growing.
City rangers responded to 1456 reports of abandoned vehicles in 2010-11. That was up from 1180 reports the previous year and 1171 reports in 2008-09.
A TAMS spokesman said people being unable to afford the ongoing costs of running a vehicle, such as petrol and insurance, could be a reason for the rise.