On April 22, 2014, the Naperville Fire Department implemented the 24/7/365 Prescription Drug Collection Program. In the two months since, we have collected and disposed of 81 gallons of unused medications from our Naperville residents.
This fact means the residents of Naperville have made their homes safer and decreased potential contamination of ground water as well. Way to go, residents!
We would like to give you further information on the drop off process:
1) Place your unused pills in a plastic baggie and place the baggie into any of the sealed drop boxes located at each of our 10 fire stations.
2) If you don’t have a plastic baggie, open the pill bottles and dump the pills directly into the drop box (be careful not to spill any on the ground).
3) Recycle your pill bottles. Did you know…
Medicine containers or pill bottles are commonly overlooked as recyclable. These are the easiest and most common plastics to recycle; they can become fiberfill for winter coats, sleeping bags and life jackets. They can also be used to make bean bags, rope, car bumpers, tennis ball felt, combs, sails for boats, furniture and, of course, other plastic bottles.
That’s a lot of stuff! So toss your pill bottles in your home recycle bin, but consider taking the label off or blanking out the information on it first –if someone finds it, you don’t want them knowing what medicine you’re taking.
4) Please do not place any needles, sharps or lancets from diabetic testing supplies into the drop boxes.
For information on how to dispose of needles, sharps or diabetic testing supplies or if you have any questions about the Drug Collection Program, contact EMS Assistant Judi Greenberg at (630) 305-5243.
