- SAVE THE DATE - Next Safe Medication Disposal Day: April 28 (schedule and locations to be announced soon)

Latest Safe Medication Disposal Day Collects Over 800 Pounds of Medications from 409 participants.

The Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal reports 834 pounds of medications were received during the October 1, 2011 collection day.  While much of the activity occurred at the main “drive through” collection site at TCAT headquarters in the City of Ithaca, nearly 30% of participants visited one of the Coalition’s “satellite” sites, in Lansing and Dryden.  Medications collected included more than 12,700 doses of controlled substances.

About two-thirds of participants reported that they had never been to a previous Coalition-sponsored collection event.  The October 1 event was the fourth collection day the Coalition has held since the beginning of last year.  Altogether, the Coalition’s four events have collected more than 4,100 pounds of unwanted medications.

"The results of our fourth collection event were tremendous,” says Coalition chair Ed Gottlieb, pretreatment Coordinated at the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility.  “The continued large turnout shows the ongoing need for this important public service.  We will continue our efforts and work to make the safe disposal of unwanted household medications even more convenient to the public."

The Coalition report that more than half of participants said they would have continued to hold onto their medications if they hadn't come to last Saturday’s collection.  Nearly half indicated they were getting rid of the meds because they had expired. 

The Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal includes representatives of many County departments, non-profit organizations, and private citizens.  They are supported by many area pharmacies and businesses.

The Coalition’s next collection event will take place on April 28, 2012; locations and schedule have not yet been finalized.

Media Contact:  Ed Gottlieb, 273-8381.

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The October 1 collection occurred at three locations—

• the TCAT garage, just off Route 13 on Willow Avenue in Ithaca, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• the Dryden Fire Department (Neptune Hose Co. #1), 26 North St., Dryden, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
• the Lansing Town Hall, 29 Auburn Rd., Lansing, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For more information, click on the links below, call 2-1-1, or email: egottlieb@cityofithaca.org

FAQ's  Frequently Asked Questions                   What is involved?                Volunteer form                         

Why participate?                                                  Event sponsors                   Volunteer safety information                                  

Related information:

Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste

2011 Household Hazardous Waste collection schedule

Disposing of Sharps (needles)