The York County Solid Waste Authority (YCSWA) disposed of a total of 1.64 tons of unused and expired residential medications in 2021. The medications were collected via the YCSWA's secure medication take-back box program and community drug take-back events, along with illegal drugs delivered by law enforcement for destruction.
The secure medication take-back box program provides a secure disposal option for unwanted medications from residential sources at no cost to the public or to law enforcement agencies. All York County police departments have been invited to participate. Illegal drugs captured by law enforcement are also destroyed at no cost.
The medication take-back boxes, purchased by YCSWA from MedReturn, work like a mailbox. Once medications are deposited, they cannot be retrieved and are contained in a locked compartment accessible only by law enforcement. The heavy-duty green metal boxes are bolted to the floor and wall. Medications collected in the take-back box program are delivered by law enforcement to the YCSWA's waste-to-energy facility for safe and complete destruction. Law enforcement also maintains the boxes and secures medications that are received until they can be destroyed.
The YCSWA's waste-to-energy facility is equipped with state-of-the-art combustion technology and air emission controls. The facility's operator, Covanta York Renewable Energy, also supports this method at the York County Resource Recovery Center.
Residents interested in dropping medication at a take-back box location should remove their personal information from containers before depositing them in the boxes. Only residential prescription medications are accepted, including pet medications. Pharmacies, hospitals, and other commercial sources of medications are not eligible to participate. Syringes and other sharps are not accepted in this program. The public may deposit unwanted medications anonymously in the take-back boxes during lobby hours at several locations. Local sites include Hellam Township Police Department, 44 Walnut Springs Road, York; Lower Windsor Township Police Department, 2425 Craley Road, Wrightsville; and Springettsbury Township Police Department, 1501 Mount Zion Road, York. Lobbies are open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for Springettsbury Township, which is open until 5 p.m.
For more information about the YCSWA's secure medication take-back box program, visit http://www.ycswa.com/disposal-of-household-waste/medical/.
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