PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The homeless population at Portland’s Waterfront Park and Eastbank Esplanade is growing, and with that comes a spike in drug use.

Now, there’s a push to keep dirty needles off walking paths and open spaces.

Earlier this month, 2 syringe drop boxes were set up on the west end of the Burnside Bridge and on the Eastbank Esplanade near Salmon Street.

“They look like mailboxes or trashcans, they’re well-marked” Kim Toevs with Harm Reduction Services said. “We take in more than 2 million used syringes a year.”

According to Toevs, the drug problem is only getting worse in Portland.

“It’s been an increase every year for about the past 5 years,” she explained. “Heroin has definitely been on the increase in Portland.”

The syringe drop boxes were implemented as part of a year-long pilot project for the Healthy Streets Initiative. It aims to make certain areas of the city safer and cleaner.

“Until they can have access to treatment and they’re ready to engage in treatment, we look to help mitigate some of the other harms that can happen,” Toevs said.

But not everyone is on board with the plan. Toevs says there’s a “public perception of nervousness” associated with the drop boxes, and many worry they’ll get accidentally pricked by dirty needles that can carry Hepatitis B, C or even HIV.

“I think it’s enabling and encouraging,” Portland resident Rachelle Jacover said. “It’s a huge problem and I get that and it’s unfortunate, but that isn’t the answer.”

More syringe drop boxes could pop up once the pilot project ends.

The boxes are emptied every 2 weeks. The program costs around $20,000 and has reportedly been successful in other cities, including Seattle.