Annual medication collection day nets over 500 pounds of medications

Organizers counted over 1,107 residents taking advantage of Saturday’s opportunity for proper disposal of medications during the beautiful summer-like spring day.

“Residents are doing a great job cleaning out those medicine cabinets,” said Dubois County Solid Waste District Director Carla Striegel-Winner, adding that 517 pounds of medications were properly disposed of on Saturday.

The Holland and Dubois fire departments and the Jasper State Police Post served as collection sites for the day. Attendees were gifted medication holders and according to Stiegel-Winner, cardboard and plastic was also recycled at the event.

Dubois County’s bi-annual medication collection day, in association with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s national event, allows residents to safely dispose of old medications. Each properly disposed of item reduces contamination in our water system and alleviates the potential for accidental overdose or ingestion of outdated or incorrect medication. It is medication kept away from kids, teenagers or those susceptible to becoming prescription medication addicts.

Dubois County Solid Waste District Director Striegel-Winner especially thanks Dubois County CARES, Dubois County Substance Abuse Council and the former RSVP volunteers for stepping up to help ensure the event went smoothly this spring. She also thanks the law enforcement officers who assisted, as the event must have an officer at each location. Special thanks to the Holland Police Department and to the Sheriff Department for providing officers for the two county collections sites. At least 22 people assisted to ensure the collection day went as planned. Partners will be meeting soon to discuss the future of the collection events in Dubois County.

Residents can watch local media for information on the next collection day and may also use the county’s 24/7 site at the Jasper City Police Department.

Sponsors for the event include the Indiana State Police Post District 34, Dubois County Sheriff’s Department, Holland Police Department, Dubois and Holland Volunteer Fire Departments, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Dubois County Substance Abuse Council, Dubois County CARES and the Dubois County Solid Waste District.