Contact: Jane Larson (608) 224-5005
Madison – If you have old prescription medicines or half-empty pill bottles in your home, now is the time to take them to local prescription drug collection events.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has distributed $75,000 in grants to county and municipal governments for prescription drug collection events where Wisconsin residents can safely dispose of unwanted or expired prescription medications. The grant-supported events will continue through November.
“Prescription drug collection events are a safe, monitored and no-cost method for people to eliminate the risk that unwanted prescription drugs pose to our families, our communities and the environment,” said Roger Springman, drug collection program manager.
“Medications should remain in their original containers so pharmacists assisting with the collection can identify and classify the drugs for disposal,” Spring man said. “We recommend that you contact your local event coordinator to find out details of what items will be accepted and other collection guidelines.”
Fall prescription drug collection events are as follows. Some counties have multiple dates and locations and some programs are an on-going collection through the remainder of the year. A more detailed list is also available on the DATCP website.
* Brown County: Sept. 18, Shopko Express in Ledgeview, (920) 492-4964
* Jefferson County: Sept. 19, Fort Atkinson Public Works Dept., (920) 674-7430
* Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Calumet Counties: five sites in Sheboygan County on Oct. 3; Manitowoc County on Oct. 22, Two Rivers Senior Center; Oct. 24, Manitowoc County Expo Center; (920) 683-4333 for Manitowoc events or (920) 459-3060 for Sheboygan events
* Marinette County: Oct. 24 at three locations in Marinette, Crivitz and Pembine, (715) 732-7670 or (715) 521-4769
* Oconto County: Oct. 10, Community Memorial Hospital, Oconto Falls, (920) 834-7000 or (920) 846-3441
* City of Racine and Villages of Caledonia and Mt. Pleasant: Oct. 17, 156 E. State St., Burlington and 6200 21st St., Racine, (262) 636-9203
* Walworth County: Sept. 25-26, Lake Geneva Streets Dept. and Walworth County Public Works, Elkhorn, (262) 741-3367
* Waupaca, Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties: Oct. 9-10; Oct. 14-17 and Oct. 23; there are 15 collection sites in the four-county area, Waupaca County (715) 258-6240, Winnebago County (920) 232-1850, Calumet County (920) 849-1450, Outagamie County (920) 832-5277
* City of Wauwatosa: Sept. 26, City Hall, (414) 773-2966
* Wood County: now through November, Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids Police Departments during regular business hours, (715) 421-8911
“Home and condominium owners, renters, and residents of assisted living or retirement centers are all encouraged to use these collections to safely dispose of unwanted drugs,” Springman said.
The department recently opened the next grant round for collection events to be held in 2010. Applications are due Oct. 2, 2009. Information and application materials are available on the DATCP website at http://www.datcp.state.wi.us then search on ‘clean sweep.’
For more information on prescription drug clean sweeps, contact Roger Springman, 608-224-4545.
