Permanent Drug Drop Box Installed at Bernards PD

A permanent "drop box" where the public can discard unused, expired and potentially hazardous medications has been installed at Bernards Township Police headquarters at 1 Collyer Lane, to be open whenever the police department building is staffed. It is intended to serve the entire area, including other towns in the Somerset Hills.

Information printed on the box specifies what medications can be accepted and those that are not. For example, medications with needles and liquids are not accepted through the program.

Once collected, the medications are destroyed, at no cost to taxpayers, by Morristown-based Covanta Energy, a nationwide operator of energy from waste and renewable energy facilities, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's office.

The harm associated with flushing medications down the drain or throwing them in the trash can be effectively eliminated, according to a release on the program.

Nearby Bernardsville has no plans to install a box at this time, but Bernardsville Police Chief Kevin Valentine said he would direct residents to the Bernards police department, or the Somerset County Sheriff's Office in Somerville.

Bernardsville will continue to participate with periodic Operation Medicine Cabinet Collection Days in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Valentine said.

Best hours to drop off

The drop off is technically available all days, but generally the best times to discard of medicines are when the Bernards police headquarters is usually staffed and open to the public between 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday, said Bernards Police Chief Brian Bobowicz.

After those hours and on weekends, a call to the police dispatch at the main number, 908-766-1122, would be required to arrange for an officer to return to unlock the building, Bobowicz said.

In addition to the Bernards Township location, Project Medicine drop boxes are located in the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office in Somerville and the Hillsborough Township police department, the prosecutor's office said.

Plans also are in place to add more drop boxes in the county, according to the prosecutor's office.

Bobowicz said the permanent drop box will replace the township's participation in the DEA's successful “National Drug Take-Back Day” since 2010 and as recently as April 27. "Project Medicine Drop is the vehicle we were looking for in order to expand the collection of unused medications in our community," Bobowicz said.

Bernards Mayor Carolyn Gaziano said that by becoming a full time partner with the Division of Consumer Affairs, the receptacle will allow township residents and those in neighboring communities to anonymously dispose of unused or expired medications 365 days a year.

According to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs website,  there are 40 secured medicine drop box locations throughout New Jersey. The public is asked to bring any medications not needed or wanted to a drop box for safe and convenient disposal.