Over 59,000 lbs. of unused medications collected during Drug Take Back Day

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Attorney General Josh Kaul announced this week that during the April 30 Drug Take Back Day, Wisconsin collected a total of 59,840 lbs. of unwanted medications.

Statewide over 135 law enforcement agencies participated in Drug Take Back Day. Medications were also collected from permanent drug disposal boxes at law enforcement agencies. Wisconsin has more than 490 permanent drug disposal boxes accessible year-round at law enforcement agencies, hospitals, pharmacies and health clinics.

“Once again, folks from across Wisconsin stepped up to participate in Drug Take Back, and now 59,840 lbs. of unused and unwanted medications will be safely disposed of,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul in a statement.

Water reclamation facilities are not designed to remove all medications, and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in rivers and lakes, according to the release.

The collected medications were boxed, palletized, shrink wrapped and secured for transportation to Covanta Energy Corporation in Indianapolis, where the drugs will be incinerated.

Drug Take Back Day was made possible with the assistance and support from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Fuchs Trucking, Covanta Energy, the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Indiana State Police, Waukesha County, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office and all participating local law enforcement agencies.

For more information about unused or expired medicine and to find a permanent drug disposal box near you, go to doseofrealitywi.gov.