DEA Drug Take-Back Day  

Saturday April 27, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Since 2007, the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) has sponsored a collection program for residents to dispose of unwanted or expired over-the-counter and prescription medications, as well as sharps (needles). The shortcoming of this program is that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will not allow Controlled Substances to be collected by municipal staff. These medications must be collected by a sworn Police Officer or at a Police Station in a secure drop-off box.

Good news, on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the DEA is sponsoring a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. In the four previous Take-Back events, the DEA in conjunction with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners have collected more than 2 million pounds (1,018 tons) of prescription medications were removed from circulation.

The following SWANCC communities will be collecting all types of medications in conjunction with this event, but please note, sharps will NOT be accepted.

• Buffalo Grove
• Barrington
• Elk Grove Village
• Glenview
• Hoffman Estates
• Kenilworth
• Palatine
• Prospect Heights
• Skokie - Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
• Rolling Meadows
• Wilmette

For drop-off locations, please visit these community's websites or deadiversion.usdoj.gov for additional locations.

DO NOT flush medications down the toilet or put them down the drain! 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey revealed that there are a substantial amount of antibiotics and steroidal hormones in rivers, lakes and wells caused by people flushing their medications down the toilet or putting them down the sink. 

To learn more, download the Pharmaceutical Drugs and Sharps Disposal brochure.