Free Medication Disposal Event Cosponsored By Pennsylvania American Water On Tap For Berks Residents

Reading, PA - At today's Berks County Commissioners meeting, Pennsylvania American Water announced that it will partner again with the Berks County Solid Waste Authority to host a free medication collection and disposal event. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 28, at the Exeter Township Municipal Building to enable county residents to dispose of unwanted and expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs in an environmentally safe manner.

Last May, the Berks County Solid Waste Authority collected a record-setting 1,020 pounds of pharmaceutical products from the approximately 430 residents who participated in the disposal event. The program keeps unused medications from ending up in local landfills and waterways, plus disposing of them in an environmentally safe manner prevents drugs from falling into the wrong hands.

"This is the third year that we have teamed up with the Solid Water Authority to make the pharmaceutical collection available to all county residents," said Terry Maenza, director of communications and external affairs for Pennsylvania American Water. "These events are very effective not only in protecting our water resources but also to educate the public about the proper disposal of unused and expired drugs, which means not flushing them down the toilet."

To help cover the event's collection and promotional costs, Pennsylvania American Water presented the county commissioners with a $2,500 check as a co-sponsor with the Solid Waste Authority. The event's overall cost will be dependent on the volume of medications received, which will be documented and subsequently incinerated at a licensed disposal facility.

"The Solid Waste Authority is very happy to partner again with Pennsylvania American Water to be able to provide this valuable service to the residents of Berks County," said Authority Executive Director Jane Meeks.

The collection will be held April 28, in the parking lot of the Exeter Township Municipal Building at 4975 DeMoss Road, Reading from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will be able to drive through a drop-off point in the parking lot and hand over their medications. Representatives from Pennsylvania American Water, Berks County Solid Waste Authority and a licensed disposal contractor, as well as the Berks County District Attorney's office, will be on-site for the duration of the event.

SOURCE: Pennsylvania American Water