City of Portage issued the following announcement.
Red Med Box Medication Disposal
Fast, Free & Secure
Red Med Box is a drug collection and disposal program launched in Kalamazoo County in 2011. The Red Med Box is a joint effort among law enforcement, the Kalamazoo
Household Hazardous Waste Center, Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force, and many other community partners. The program allows the safe disposal of unwanted or
expired medications, including over-the-counter medications. Once collected, the medications are taken to an incinerator and destroyed.
Red Med Box offers an alternative to flushing old medications down the toilet, which contaminate local water sources. Moreover, certain medications considered controlled
substances have a high potential for abuse and addiction and often fall into the wrong hands. Red Med Box is a safe and secure way to dispose of these medications.
Location & Hours
A Red Med Box is located in the Department of Public Safety Headquarters Building (7810 Shaver Road) across from the Duty Officer window. The Red Med Box is accessible
Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Red Med Boxes are also located at Walgreens Pharmacy at 7920 Shaver Road and Meijer Pharmacy at 8850 Shaver Road.
Additional Red Med Boxes are located in Kalamazoo and Schoolcraft:
KDPS – E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo
Township Police – 1720 Riverview Drive, Kalamazoo
Sheriff’s Office – 1500 Lamont Avenue
WMU Public Safety – 511 Monroe Street
Schoolcraft Police – 442 N. Grand Street/Us 131
In 2019, the Portage Department of Public Safety collected and destroyed more than 3,500 pounds of unwanted or unused medication, protecting the environment from
contamination and our community from medication abuse and addiction.
Keep medications in the original container and mark out any personal identifying information. Then, simply drop the medications in the Red Med Box. No need to check in with
anyone or fill out any forms. It’s just that simple!
Red Med Box will accept:
Expired and unused medications
Over-the-counter medications
Antibiotics/steroids
Cold and flu medications
Vitamins and herbal supplements
Medication samples
Pet medications
Medicated ointment/lotion/drops
Unopened Epi-Pen
Liquid medications
Red Med Box will NOT accept:
Needles/lancets/syringes
Thermometers
IV bags
Bloody or infectious waste
Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, etc.
Business waste
Empty containers
Personal care products
Used Epi-Pens
Aerosol cans
Electronic devices (diabetes testers, etc.)
Inhalers
Original source can be found here.
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