The Great Neck Water Pollution Control District recently hosted its most successful Shed the Meds event since the initiative was started three years ago. A steady stream of traffic drove through the site—amounting to more than 200 cars participating—that collectively dropped off more than 475 pounds of unused or expired pharmaceuticals as well as six full containers of medical sharps (EpiPens, needles, etc.). In fact, the District has now collected more than one ton of unused and unwanted pharmaceuticals since the program began in 2017. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a record number of participants joined the contactless drive-thru system that kept everyone safe.
“Even during these unprecedented times, the community came out in force to bring their expired and unused medications down to the District to dispose of them in a proper manner,” said Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Chairman Jerry Landsberg. “The constant stream of cars passing through our contactless drive-thru is a testament to the community’s environmentally-conscious residents and the momentum that this program has gained since its inception a few short years ago.”
The biannual event, hosted in partnership with Reach Out America, Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition, North Shore Action, Nassau County Police, Northwell Health 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.
Several of the area’s elected officials visited the event and dropped off some pharmaceuticals of their own. County Executive Laura Curran, Town Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey, Great Neck Park Commissioner Tina Stellato and Village of Thomaston Mayor Steven Weinberg all stopped by and County Legislator Ellen Birnbaum donated complimentary hand sanitizer to every car dropping off medications.
“We are overjoyed with the positive feedback we get from the residents and the gratitude that they continue to show for the effort we make to put this event together every year,” added Commissioner Landsberg. “The District will continue to host this event and spearhead other initiatives focused on protecting the local environment and our water for future generations,”
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.
