Turn In Your Unwanted Drugs On Sept. 29

How do you dispose of your unwanted, expired prescriptions? Throwing them in the trash, where they wind up in a landfill, is not the preferred disposal method. Flushing them means medications wind up in the waterways, where they can do damage to plants, fish and animals.

The Pleasant Hill Police Department has a good answer: On Saturday, Sept. 29, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), there is a Take Back event where people with unwanted, expired or unused prescription drugs or over the counter can bring them to the police department lobby between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for proper disposal.

The service is free and no questions will be asked. Medicine and drugs may be dropped off in their original containers.

“Unwanted prescription drugs and medicine can be a household hazard, particularly for households with small children,” according to a release from the police department.

Syringes, pre-packaged injectable drugs medications with needles and illicit drugs will not be accepted.

This program supplements the existing pharmaceutical drop-off program that the department runs in partnership with the Contra Costa Sanitary District.