Bedford Police Set Up Drop Box For Unwanted Medications

BEDFORD, N.Y. ? A medication drop box has been installed at Bedford Police headquarters for the disposal of unwanted prescription medications, the department announced Monday.

Bedford Police have installed a medication drop box in the lobby at headquarters.
Photo Credit: *Liz Button*

by Liz Button

02/19/2013 4:30 p.m.

"It's basically to try and keep old and unused medications out of the hands of those who shouldn't have them, like children, or like adults who abuse medications," Lt. Jeff Dickan said of the countywide program.

A donation from the Westchester Coalition for Drug & Alcohol Free Youth allows the department to offer the safe, convenient and anonymous disposal method for unused, expired or unwanted medications, police said.

Residents are permitted to use the MedReturn Drug Collection vault 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to police. The box is located in the station lobby at 307 Bedford Road in Bedford Hills.

Aside from keeping medications out of households and removing risk factors for addiction, the box's other purpose, Dickan said, is keeping medications out of the groundwater. Preventing chemicals from leaching into landfills, sewers and septic systems helps protect the environment, he said.

Sharp objects such as syringes and other bio-hazard items such as liquids may not be placed in the drop box, police said.

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