The East Ridge Police Department has installed a Prescription Drug Receptacle at their Ringgold Road location for citizens to drop off their expired or unused prescription medication. This allows the medication to be disposed of properly instead of ending up in landfills or in the local watershed.

According to Police Chief J.R. Reed, citizens can stop by the police department and drop off expired medications from their home medicine cabinets or if a relative has passed away and they were tasked with disposing of their family member’s medication.

“This drop off station was made possible by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as well as the Hamilton County Coalition,” Chief Reed said. “This will allow citizens to anonymously drop off any unused or expired medication during the week instead of waiting until the Drug Take-back program occurs, which is only twice a year.”
Citizens can access this drop off station at the East Ridge Police Department, located at 4214 Ringgold Road, Monday throughFriday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., except on holidays. All expired or unused medication is accepted with the exception of sharps or syringes/needles.

The department will take part in a “Drug Take-Back” program on April 25, officials said.

Anyone with expired or unwanted prescription drugs can stop by Walgreens at 5301 Ringgold Road between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and dispose of the drugs to authorities. Chief Reed said that last year the public dropped off more than 100 pounds of prescriptions in this manner.

The program is sponsored in part by Tennessee American Water Company, Blood Assurance, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Hamilton County.