Available to Lawrence and Scioto County residents

The Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District’s (LSSWMD) pharmaceutical collection event will take place next weekend, with Scioto County’s on Friday and Lawrence County’s Saturday.

The event is a free way to properly dispose of medications, instead of flushing them down the toilet, which is considered to be one of the least desirable alternatives.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications, intravenous solutions, injectables and needles will all be accepted. If possible, residents should bring their items in their original containers in order to make identification easier. Labels on the bottle containing personal information can be removed, however.

Illegal substances, such as marijuana or methamphetamines, are not part of the initiative and will not be accepted.

Last year in Lawrence County, 45 vehicles came through and 52 pounds of pills, 40 pounds of sharps/syringes and 20 pounds of liquid medications were collected. In Scioto County, 47 vehicles came through and 50 poundsof pills, 30 pounds of sharps/syringes and 45 pounds of liquid medications were collected.

On Friday, the event will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Scioto County Jail parking lot, located at 1025 16th St., Portsmouth. On Saturday, it will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Ironton Hills Plaza.

Law enforcement will be available to offer security and a licensed medical professional will also be on hand for prescription identification at both locations.

Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital will provide containers used for collection as well.

LSSWMD Director Dan Palmer said both events are open to residents from either county.