Sheriff Brown Announces DEA “National Take Back Initiative” On Saturday, October 23 In Flemington

Hunterdon County Sheriff Fred W. Brown announced the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) “National Take Back Initiative” program where residents can dispose of expired or unused medications and electronic cigarette vaping devices will take place on Saturday, October 23rd, at the Justice Center in Flemington.

Sheriff Brown said, “Proper disposal of prescription drugs discourages their misuse in the home and protects family members from taking expired medications. We have had great success in the past with prescription drop off events and appreciate being able to offer a convenient and responsible means of disposal.”

Included in this year’s ‘Take Back Initiative’ are E-Cigarettes and Vaping devices. The DEA instructs anyone dropping off these electronic devices to remove the batteries before dropping them into the containers.

Batteries for e-cigarette and vaping devices should be disposed of properly at the county’s Household Hazardous Waste event on December 11th at the Route 12 County Complex, from 9 am until 1 pm. “Removing potential hazards from the home is our main priority. Safely disposing of prescription drugs, and electronic cigarette devices, is part of our effort to maintain quality of life in Hunterdon County,” Sheriff Brown said.

“It has also been documented that without drop box events, unwanted or expired prescriptions and non-working electronic cigarette devices, when thrown out with regular trash, contaminate drinking water, and can harm fish and other wildlife. This program encourages protection of the environment, reduces the potential for in-home abuse and poisoning, and creates a safer community overall,” Sheriff Brown concluded.

The ‘Take Back Initiative’ is on Saturday, October 23rd at the Justice Center on Park Avenue in Flemington, from 10 am until 2 pm. Residents should call the Sheriff’s Office for more information, 908-788-1166. Prescription drug drop-boxes are available around the county at municipal police departments, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Justice Center, year-round.

Drop box locations can be found here . For information on how to dispose of drugs that are not allowed in a drop box, click here.