North Castle Launches Permanent Drug Take-Back Program
North Castle residents who are looking to safely dispose of old prescription and over-the-counter medications no longer have to wait for one or two days a year.
The North Castle Police Department announced this week that it has launched a new drug take-back program that allows the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous medications in an environmentally responsible manner.
Police Chief Peter Simonsen said residents can come to the police department lobby at Town Hall around the clock on any day of the year to drop off prescription and over-the-counter medications, prescription patches and ointments, vitamins and pet medications and place them in a drug collection unit, which is similar to a mailbox.
Previously, North Castle had participated in the federal Drug Enforcement Agency’s drug take-back day, which usually coincided with the town’s Zero Waste Day. Since the public’s response was overwhelmingly positive, town officials sought a way to offer the service permanently.
“I think obviously this is something the community wants and we were looking to be able to accommodate them,” Simonsen said.
He said the town started the program about three weeks ago but waited until the week of this year’s Zero Waste Day, which is being held today (Saturday), to publicize it since many residents had grown accustomed to having both initiatives run simultaneously.
Items that are not accepted are hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, aerosol cans and needles.
For more information about the new drug take-back program, call the North Castle Police Department at 914-273-9500.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
