There are currently few safe and convenient ways for consumers to dispose of unused prescription drugs, but on Saturday at the Earth Day Festival, the community will be able to drop off unused prescription medication, a press release said.
Nearly all unused pharmaceuticals enter either our solid waste system or sewage system. Neither disposal method is environmentally sound. These medications, when flushed down the toilet, pass through our sewage treatment plants, which are generally not designed to screen for these chemicals, the press release said. Pharmaceuticals discarded in landfills can seep into the surrounding groundwater table.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office along with the Clinton Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oliver Springs Police Department, Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, and Food City will host “Operation Medicine Cabinet” from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at four locations within Anderson County.
These locations are:
- Oak Ridge Police Department at 200 S. Tulane Avenue, and Food City in Oak Ridge at 1199 Oak Ridge Turnpike;
- Food City in Clinton at 507 S. Charles G. Seivers Blvd.; and
- Food City in Oliver Springs at 508 E. Tri County Blvd.
What will be accepted for disposal:
- prescription medications (unwanted, expired, unused);
- antibiotics/steroids;
- cold and flu medications;
- vitamins/herbal supplements;
- pet medications;
- medication samples;
- medicated ointments/lotions; and
- unused sharps (epinephrine, unused pricking devices)
What won’t be accepted:
- business waste,
- used needles and other sharps. These items should be disposed by placing the sharps/needles in a sealed plastic container and putting that in with your household waste.
For more information, call Stephanie Strutner at (865) 457-3007 or (865) 742-4690 or ASAP at (865) 457-3007.
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