Broome Takes Back Drugs and Unveils Collection Site for Needles

Broome County is participating in the National Drug Take Back Day October 29 and unveiling a new kiosk to take syringes and other “sharps”.   

Residents can drop off prescription or non-prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheriff’s office, Johnson City Elks Lodge, Whitney Point Fire Station, United Health Services Vestal Parkway location or the West Windsor Fire Department while the Broome County Health Department will take back drugs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the offices on Front Street in Binghamton. 

Drug take back events give resident the chance to properly dispose of over-the-counter and prescription drugs, keeping dangerous items away from children or others who should not have access to them as well as keeping harmful chemicals out of the environment by giving residents an option to disposal of medicines to throwing them in the garbage where they would end up in the landfill, or worse, flushing them down the drain and into the water system. 

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While drug take back days are nothing new, there has been a problem in the past with the disposal of sharp items like syringes or sharps that still have medication loaded like expired Epi-pens. 

The new sharps collection kiosk at the Broome County Health Department will allow for disposal of those items any time the offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

A news release from the county states “sharps/syringes with medications in them will be accepted, but no other medications should be deposited in the kiosk. Containers that are larger than two quarts also will not be accepted.