Drug collection to be held on April 25

The Ozaukee and Washington County drive-through prescription drug take-back day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25.

Collections will be held at the Ozaukee County Transit Center, 741 W. Oakland Ave., Port Washington; Concordia University Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Dr., Mequon; and the Washington County Highway Department, 900 Lang St., West Bend.

The items accepted must be generated by a household, not a business.

Controlled and uncontrolled prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, inhalers, non-aerosol sprays, creams, vape cartridges and devices with batteries removed, vials and pet medications will be accepted.

People may bring these medications in clear, sealable plastic bags.

Liquids will be accepted. However, the liquids, creams and sprays must be in their original packaging.

Items that will not be accepted include illegal drugs, needles and sharps, mercury thermometers, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials — anything containing a bodily fluid or blood — flares, personal care products, household hazardous waste such as paint, pesticides, chemicals, oil or gas, acids or any vape devices containing batteries.

The event provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of unused or expired medicine.

They should never be flushed or poured down the drain because wastewater plants are not designed to remove all of these medications and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in rivers and lakes.

Permanent drop boxes for year-round prescription medication disposal are available during regular office hours at police departments throughout Ozaukee and Washington counties. To find a location, visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/drug-take-back-day.htm.

  The event is sponsored by the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Sirona Recovery, Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy and Washington County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration.