Record-breaking 550 pounds of pharmaceuticals collected at Shed the Meds

The Island Now
Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Commissioner Patty Katz, Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey and Great Neck Water Pollution Commissioner Steve Reiter greet Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender during the recent Shed the Meds drive-thru event. (Photo courtesy of Great Neck Water Pollution Control District)
Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Commissioner Patty Katz, Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey and Great Neck Water Pollution Commissioner Steve Reiter greet Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender during the recent Shed the Meds drive-thru event. (Photo courtesy of Great Neck Water Pollution Control District)

The Great Neck Water Pollution Control District recently collected a record-breaking 550 pounds of expired and unused medications at its fourth Shed the Meds event—a free pharmaceutical drop-off program hosted at the District’s headquarters.

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, the District welcomed more than 200 local residents to an event aimed at protecting the environment and raising awareness of the dangers of flushing pharmaceuticals down the toilet.

“We are all extremely grateful for the outpouring of community participation in the fourth installment of our Shed the Meds program,” Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Commissioner Patty Katz said. “The consistent line of cars throughout the three hour event is a testament to the civically active and environmentally focused community we live in, and we thank all residents who took a few minutes out of their busy Sunday to drop-off medications.” 

The District, after collecting 800 pounds at its first three Shed the Meds events, set a goal to reach a cumulative 1,000 pound mark at the fourth event. Due to the community’s support, the District far exceeded this goal with a total of 1,350 pounds of medications collected since the program’s inception.

“Participation in this program is a simple way to be a partner in protecting the local environment and reducing the far too common practice of flushing medications down the toilet,” Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Commissioner Steve Reiter said. “Through this event, and many other initiatives spearheaded by the District, we hope to continue to be an environmental leader in the Great Neck community.”

The Sheds the Meds events will continue to be hosted in the fall and spring. In between events, the District offers residents free pharmaceutical disposal kits that can be used throughout the year at the District’s headquarters: 236 East Shore Road.

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.

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