Woodbury Gets New Drug Collection Box

WOODBURY, MN -- Woodbury now has its own collection box for unwanted prescription drugs. Any unused or expired prescriptions can be dropped off at the box at the Woodbury Service Center at 2150 Radio Dr.

"Old and unused medicines in your home can pose a risk for accidental poisoning, theft and drug abuse," according to the Washington County website. Disposing of them properly is now easier.

Medications disposed of in a toilet, sink or trash can can eventually pollute surface and groundwater, harming wildlife. "Instead of flushing or throwing them in the trash, drop the medication off for safe and free disposal."

Woodbury is the county's four location with a drug collection box. The others are in Cottage Grove, Forest Lake and Stillwater.

Each collection point accepts pills and capsules, blister packs, creams and gels, unused Epipens, inhalers and patches, IV bags and vials, liquids/powders and sprays.

What is not accepted are needles, Epipens, syringes, lancets, thermometers and liquid chemotherapy drugs. These items are accepted at the Environmental Center at 4039 Cottage Grove Drive.

Drugs collected in designated boxes are brought to a waste-to-energy facility that handles this type of waste. The cost of disposing of these drugs is placed under garbage collection services.

The Woodbury Bulletin reported that since the Washington County Sheriff's office and the Department of Public Health Environment partnered in 2012, they have collected more than 34,000 pounds of drugs.

For more information, check out the county's flyer.

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