It’s fall cleanup time and the Town of Riverhead and the Riverhead Community Awareness Program are offering residents the chance to safely dispose of household hazardous wastes, including electronics, as well as unused or unwanted prescription medications at a special collection day on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Automotive products, household chemicals, lawn and garden products, unused or unwanted medications and electronic equipment will be accepted for safe and proper disposal. For a full list of items, visit the Town of Riverhead website.
These are items that should not be disposed of in landfills, incinerators, storm drains or flushed down the toilet, because they pose great risk of groundwater and surface water pollution.
Also, leaving unused or unwanted prescription medications around the house, especially prescription painkillers, poses a safety risk.
CAP’s Community Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Youth will hold the medication take-back event Saturday in conjunction with Riverhead’s STOP day Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Riverhead Highway Department, 1177 Osborn Avenue in Riverhead.
The coalition will also be giving away free Deterra Drug Deactivation kits to the first 200 participants at the event. The kits safely destroy prescriptions and over-the-counter pills, patches, liquids, creams and films.
CAP will also offer free COVID-19 home tests to participants.
Northwell Health will also attend the event from 9 a.m. to 12 noon to provide free naloxone (Narcan) training and kits to community members. Naloxone (Narcan) is an antidote to an opioid overdose. It is a lifesaving medication that can be administered by anyone. The training takes just 2-3 minutes and all who receive the training will be provided with a free kit.
“To date, we’ve collected over 11,000 pounds of medication,” said Isabella Marcucci, the Riverhead Community Coalition’s new coordinator. “This was accomplished through the combination of take back events and the permanent drop box.”
In August 2014, a permanent medication drop box was installed in the lobby of the Riverhead Police Department at 210 Howell Avenue so residents could safely and conveniently dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medication 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Certain wastes will not be accepted at STOP Day, including explosives, medical wastes, commercial or industrial wastes, latex-based paint, air conditioners, tires, flares and batteries. All containers must be sealed and properly labeled and medication can be in original container or plastic bag.
For more information about the medication giveback call (631)727-2722 ext. 106.
For more information about the STOP Program call (631)727-3200 ext. 391.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
