Pharmaceutical Disposal now available at Red Lake County Courthouse

The Red Lake County Environmental Office and the Red Lake County Sheriff’s Office have teamed up to provide a pharmaceutical waste collection site at the Courthouse in Red Lake Falls. The waste receptacle is located on the ground floor of the Courthouse, in the hallway across from the Sheriff’s Office entrance. Residents can now bring in pharmaceutical waste and dispose of it there. The north door of the Courthouse is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so waste can be disposed of at any time.

The Environmental Office purchased the disposal container and the Sheriff’s Office will provide security and properly dispose of the collected waste. Items that can be collected in the receptacle are as follows: prescriptions, prescription ointments, pet medications, prescription patches, over ­the-counter medications and vitamins. Items that are NOT acceptable are; needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, hydrogen peroxide, thermometers, ointments, lotions or liquids.

The Environmental Office also purchased a Sharps Receptacle for the disposal of used needles. That container is kept inside the Sheriff’s Office. Any needles that need to be disposed of can be turned into the on-duty dispatcher at the Sheriff’s Office. Needles must be in a puncture-proof container or they will not be accepted.

Anyone who has questions about pharmaceutical disposal may contact the Sheriff’s Office at 218-253-2996.

Mitch Bernstein