The Great Neck Water Pollution Control District held its eleventh semiannual Shed the Meds event at the District headquarters on April 23. Traffic steadily made its way through the contactless drive-thru site—amounting to 216 cars that collectively dropped off 497 pounds of unused or expired pharmaceuticals, as well as 13 full containers of medical sharps. Since the event began seven years ago, the District has now collected nearly two and a half tons of unused pharmaceuticals and medical sharps. The District’s Shed the Meds event is also one of the only places where residents can safely dispose of medical sharps on Long Island, as most local police precincts, healthcare locations and other pharmaceutical take back day events do not accept these materials.

“Our foremost priority at the GNWPCD is protecting our environment, and it is always such a pleasure to see so many members of our community support us in these efforts by taking advantage of Shed the Meds,” said GNWPCD Commissioner Patty Katz. “We are proud to serve such an environmentally-aware community and we are looking forward to providing this valuable resource to them well into the future.”

The biannual event, hosted in partnership with Reach Out America, Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition, Nassau County Police, and the Key Club at Great Neck North High School, aims at protecting local water sources and raising awareness of the dangers of flushing pharmaceuticals down the toilet.

New York State Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti, Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip and Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey were on hand to aid District officials in collecting and disposing of these materials.

For additional information and updates about the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, visit the website at www.gnwpcd.net to sign up for email newsletters or call the office at 516-482-0238.