In connection with Bartholomew County Earth Day activities, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says it will be holding a “Drug Take-Back” event.

Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that department staff will accept expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications this Saturday, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center, located at 720 South Mapleton Street in Columbus. Jackson says that the department receives several inquiries about these type of events, noting that residents find the service to be a valuable one. With that, Jackson says that the Sheriff’s Department has already scheduled another Drug Take-Back event for Thursday, June 23rd. This event, she says, will be an all-day affair, running from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the parking lot of Cummins Plant One.

Jackson stresses that, for both events, the Sheriff’s Department will not be able to accept medications from businesses, including pharmacies. She explains that this rule is in place because businesses should properly manage their drug waste under federal and state hazardous waste regulations.