The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. These occur in April and October.
Sgt. Dennis Finch Law Enforcement Center - 851 Woodmere Avenue, Traverse City, MI 49686
Site staff by the Traverse City Police Department
(Click for directions) https://goo.gl/maps/a1T7MHSBk6M2
Grand Traverse Mall - 3200 West South Airport Road, Traverse City, MI 49684
(Parking Lot by Food Court Entrance)
(Click for directions) https://goo.gl/maps/nqDqmVGYW4UypeXN8
Oral cancer medications will not be accepted at any of our collection sites due to restrictions related to our disposal facility in Grand Rapids. For proper disposal information on these types of drugs, check with your provider.
The Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program allows Grand Traverse County residents to take back their expired, unused or unwanted medications to have them properly disposed - for FREE! In compliance with the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Our prescription drug take back program has proven to be successful. Annually we partner with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to take part in the national drug take back days. We additionally hold events throughout the year at various locations throughout Grand Traverse County. Future event dates and times will be advertised through the local media and social media.
Citizens can drop off unused medications regularly at the Law Enforcement Center located at 851 Woodmere Avenue in Traverse City. Hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm. Liquids and sharps will not be accepted at the LEC or any additional drop off locations. Please contact us at 231-995-5001 if you have questions regarding our drug take back program.
Sharps Disposal If you take injections...your trash may be looking too sharp!
This section contains used sharps home disposal guidelines to help protect your family, waste handlers and the environment. "Sharps" are needles, syringes with attached needles, and disposable lancets. Although it is legal to place household needles and sharps containers into residential trash, this is not the safest option for our community. Inside a trash can or bag, the loose or containerized sharps can injure family members and waste collectors or inappropriately fall into the hands of children or people with substance abuse problems. Once in the garbage truck, sharps containers are likely to break open from the pressure of the trash compactors. Many workers run the risk of sharps contact from trash on sorting floors, in recycling lines and in landfill operations. The best solution to reducing risks from sharps is to take them to sharps collection centers!
Sharps "Pointers"
"Sharps" include syringes with attached needles and disposable lancets.
One out of every 20 people have diabetes and use an average of 2 sharps daily.
Improperly discarded sharps can injure family members, waste and recycling workers, or end up in places where they are a danger to the public, such as beaches.
Sharps are a hazard because they can be contaminated with Hepatitis, HIV (which may lead to AIDS), tetanus and other harmful diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that syringe access programs lower HIV incidence among people who inject drugs by 80%.
One-third of all AIDS cases in the U.S. have been caused by syringe sharing.
Sharps Disposal Guidelines
Step 1: Purchase a sharps container from a pharmacy when you buy new sharps. Sharps containers cost a few dollars and hold anywhere from 30 to 300 used sharps, depending on the container size you select. These containers are puncture-resistant with a special opening to accept sharps.
Step 2: Perform your routine blood tests and injections and place the used sharps into the sharps container. Seal, then tape the container shut when it is full.
Step 3: Take the filled sharps container to the location where you purchased it, such as participating pharmacies or clinics. Give the filled, sealed sharps container to the pharmacist or staffperson. Please do not leave the sharps case unattended. Sharps collected through these programs will be properly disposed in compliance with all medical waste regulations.
Sharps disposal do's
Sharps disposal don'ts
Do store sharps containers in areas that are child and animal proof
Don't place loose sharps into the trash.
Do label sharps containers, "SHARPS, Dispose of Properly".
Don't break, bend, clip, recap or reuse needles.
Do secure the top of a full sharps container and seal with sturdy tape.
Don't place sharps in aluminum cans, coffee cans, glass jars or clear plastic containers. These containers break too easily.
Do return full sharps containers to participating pharmacies for proper disposal.
Don't place sharps containers in recycling bins.
Do handle sharps used away from home in a responsible manner as well.