Rx Medication Drop-Off March 23 in Basking Ridge

Somerset County residents are invited to take an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted or outdated prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications in a special collection scheduled for this Saturday in Basking Ridge, Somerset County Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano said in an announcement.

A special collection will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the located at 277 S. Maple Ave. in Basking Ridge.

Medications should be dropped off in their original packages or bottles with personal information, such as name and address removed. The name of the medication should be visible. Illegal drugs, needles or sharps should not be brought to the drop-off.

“Leftover medicines pose serious safety and health threats and also raise environmental concerns," Provenzano said. Prescription-drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the U.S., he said in his announcement. Among youth, seven of the top 10 abused substances are pharmaceuticals, he said.

"Additionally, medicines flushed down the drain or toilet can contaminate bodies of water, harm wildlife and end up in drinking-water supplies,” the sheriff said.

Event held in conjunction with household hazardous waste collection

The Rx drop-off is being held in conjunction with a scheduled Somerset County Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event, according to the sheriff's announcement.

The Somerset County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program gives residents a legal and free way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals that cannot be disposed of in the regular trash, according to the county

Five events are held annually at various locations around the county to enable residents to take advantage of the program. Here are the 2013 Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Dates and List of Recyclable Items.

Additional information on how to dispose of unused medicines is available at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.

Rx Mission Drive-in/Drop-Off is a medicine-collection program sponsored by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, the Somerset County Solid Waste Management Division and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Residents unable to make the March drop-off may bring medications to any of the future scheduled Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off events on April 27, June 8, Sept. 14 and Oct. 26. Drop-off events are held at different locations around the county for the convenience of residents.

County residents also can take advantage of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office medicine collection drop box, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, no questions asked. The drop box is located on the lower level of the Somerset County Administration Building at 20 Grove St. in Somerville near the entrance to the Sheriff’s Office.

For more information regarding prescription medicine collection, contact Lt. Steve SanAntonio at 908-231-7168.

Although this is a county collection, Bernards Township police said that department is seeking to obtain a dropbox at headquarters at 1 Collyer Lane to collect drugs and medicines during all business hours at that location.hrs