'Operation Take Back' to Collect Unused, Expired Prescription Drugs

For the second straight year Ridgewood Police will be holding "Take Back Day," an initiative to clear expired or unused prescription medications from village cabinets, streets and streams.

Those with expired or unused prescription meds are encouraged to take the bottles to the Ridgewood Police Department on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at its lobby on the second floor of Village Hall. A clearly marked box will be designated for all disposal.

Captain Jacqueline Luthcke said the department is looking to ensure that prescriptions aren't stolen and abused.

"We're trying to keep it out of the wrong hands," she said. "We collected 25 lbs. last year and we'd like to beat that total this year." More than 120 pills were collected in the DEA-sponsored day last year.

Ed Schwartz, the chairman of the Ridgewood Environmental Action Committee, in a statement wrote that trace amounts can end up in streams and waterways if flushed down the toilet. Simply flushing drugs down the toilet "is not an option for disposal," he said.

Mayor Keith Killion also took time at Wednesday night's council session to encourage residents to drop off medications.

Those concerned there could be penalties should ot be–the village will not be checking IDs or issuing any tickets. The goal, police said, is just to get them off the street.

For more information regarding the program, call the Ridgewood Police Department at (201) 652-3900.