Prescription Drug Take Back Box Closes, Landfill Next Option

Lobby Rx Box Closes, Landfill Accepts Rx Drugs

Mesa County, Colo. -- Starting Monday, April 27, Mesa County residents should take their unwanted, expired and unused prescription drugs to the Mesa County Hazardous Waste Facility, 3071 Hwy. 50, in Grand Junction.

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office will no longer be accepting the prescription drugs due to the cost of disposing large quantities. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration held their final prescription drug take back event, nationally, in the fall of 2014. Since then, the Sheriff’s Office has continued to accept unwanted medications. Without the DEA’s assistance in properly destroying the prescription drugs and the Hazardous Waste Collection Facility’s restrictions on processing large quantities, the Sheriff’s Office is regrettably left with no alternative option other than to remove the take back box and redirect citizens to the Hazardous Waste facility.

“There is a need in our community for safe disposal of these medications,” said Mesa County Sheriff Matt Lewis. “This is clear from the amount of medications we receive on a regular basis. I am thankful for the local option our citizens will continue to have.”

The Mesa County Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, located at the Landfill, accepts over-the-counter medications and sharps/syringes from Mesa County households for free. The facility does not accept controlled substances.

Residential collection days are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information on the Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, call (970) 256-9543 or visit www.mesacounty.us/swm/hazmat.