Two Chances to Dispose of Medications Coming Up

Bridgewater Township Mayor Daniel J. Hayes, Jr. invites residents to safely dispose of unwanted or outdated prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications at two special events. 

These collection programs have been arranged by the Bridgewater Township Municipal Alliance through the support of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and the Safe Communities Coalition of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties.

A special collection will be held at the Bridgewater Township Senior Health Fair scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m at the Bridgewater Senior Citizens Center, 455 Somerville Road. 

The second collection will take place at the Bridgewater Halloween Festival, set for 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Bridgewater Municipal Complex, 100 Commons Way.

All medications delivered to the event should be provided to the Sheriff’s Office exhibit table. These medications will be placed in the secure drop box available at the event. Medications should be provided in their original packages or bottles with personal information, such as name and address, removed from the label. The name of the medication should be visible. Illegal drugs, needles or sharps should not be brought to the event for disposal purposes.

Prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug concern in the United States. Results from a recent national study indicate that 70 percent of the people who reported using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes within the past year obtained them from a home medicine cabinet. Safe disposal prevents potential illegal use and further prevents possible environmental contamination by medications improperly flushed down the toilet or thrown away in the trash.

Township residents unable to bring medications to these special events may utilize the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office permanent drop-off box that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The drop-off box is located on the lower level of the Somerset County Administration Building at 20 Grove Street, Somerville. Further information on the mission of the Safe Communities Coalition may be found at their website at www.safecoalition.org.  

For more information regarding prescription medicine collection please contact the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office at (908) 231-7168.  Programs provided through the Bridgewater Municipal Alliance are funded through support from the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.