Prescription Drug Take Back Day

On Oct. 29, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department will collect and safely dispose of unwanted or expired medicines as part of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency's third National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

You can drop off unwanted medications at the City of Sumner at anytime in their permanent collection bin. But on this day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., members of the public can anonymously drop off medications, including controlled substances, at: 

• Pierce County Sheriff's Department South Hill Precinct, 271 John Bananola Way East, Puyallup.
• University Place Public Safety Building, 3631 Drexler Drive West, University Place.
• Sprinker Recreation Center parking lot, 14824 C St. South, Tacoma.

"Take back" programs are a good way to remove potentially dangerous prescription drugs and controlled substances from homes where they may endanger children, pets and others. At the most recent Pierce County event held April 30, the South Hill, University Place and Edgewood drop-off sites collected 305 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs. For the October event, the Edgewood site has been replaced by a new site in the Sprinker Recreation Center parking lot.