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Naperville
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Prescription Drug Drop Box Program successfully disposing of unused medications in the community

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NPD drop off rxIn the six months since it has launched, Naperville’s Prescription Drug Drop Box Program at the City’s 10 fire stations has successfully kept more than 1,000 pounds of unused prescription drugs out of landfills, area waterways and the hands of those who may abuse them. An additional almost 180 pounds collected at the Police Department’s drug drop box have also been diverted.

“In the interest of public safety, it is absolutely critical that we curb the abuse of drugs in the community, including prescription medications,” Police Chief Robert Marshall said. “This large amount of medications collected shows that Naperville needs this program, embraces this program and uses this successful program. In one two-week period, the department took in 70 pounds of prescription medications alone. By working together – residents, families, parents and children – we can safely dispose of these drugs in a way that will protect the environment and ensure that our children do not use them in an abusive manner.”

The Prescription Drug Drop Box Program allows the public to safely and anonymously dispose of unused prescription drugs at one of the City’s 10 fire stations on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis. An additional drop box is located inside the City’s Police Department lobby, 1350 Aurora Ave., and available during normal lobby hours of 7AM to 8PM Monday through Friday.

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Through the program, which began on April 22, 2014, every Naperville fire station has a sealed drop box located outside of the building in which the public can place their unused/expired prescription or over-the-counter medication. The public cannot dispose of needles or other syringes through this program. Only prescription and over-the-counter medications will be collected. The drop boxes cannot accept larger sized prescription bottles; in those cases, the public should dispose of just the medication itself in the drop box. The Police Department drop box will not accept needles, syringes or liquids.

The City’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility, currently located behind Fire Station No. 4 at 1979 Brookdale Road and open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9AM to 2PM, is continuing to accept unused prescription medication as well.

Naperville’s fire stations are located at:

  • Fire Station No. 1: 964 E. Chicago Ave.
  • Fire Station No. 2: 601 E. Bailey Rd.
  • Fire Station No. 3: 1803 N. Washington St.
  • Fire Station No. 4: 1971 Brookdale Rd.
  • Fire Station No. 5: 2191 Plainfield-Naperville Rd.
  • Fire Station No. 6: 2808 103rd St.
  • Fire Station No.7: 1380 Aurora Ave.
  • Fire Station No. 8: 1320 Modaff Rd.
  • Fire Station No. 9: 1144 W. Ogden Ave.
  • Fire Station No. 10: 3201 95th St.

“Our drug drop box program is meeting and exceeding our goals,” Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis said. “As this program has shown, it is absolutely critical to provide safe and anonymous ways for people to get rid of unused prescription drugs, as statistics continue to tell us one of the main starting points for drug abuse is unused prescription drugs kept in the home. I’m proud that the Fire Department has taken in more than 1,000 pounds of prescription drugs that otherwise could have been disposed of in ways that could end up in the hands of children or contaminate our water system, which are just a few of the problems these expired drugs cause our community.”

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City of Naperville
City of Napervillehttp://www.naperville.il.us.
About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 145,000 people. This vibrant, thriving City consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The City is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The City’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.

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