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Tennessee American Water, Hamilton County Coalition & Others Announce Upcoming Drug: Take Back Biannual Event Makes It Easy to Dispose of Unwanted Medications

Posted on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 4:42 pm

 

Tennessee American Water is once again joining the Hamilton County Coalition to promote the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) biannual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to take place on Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time Zone.

Customers are asked to drop off unwanted medications at approved regional collection sites for incineration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended manner of disposing most pharmaceuticals. Flushing medications down the toilet and throwing them in the trash are discouraged.

Lori Stenzel, Tennessee American Water manager of water quality and environmental compliance, explains, “Participating in Drug Take Back not only helps clear our homes of unneeded medications but also plays a vital role in protecting our watersheds. Together, we can foster a safer, healthier environment for our community.”

Tennessee American Water partners with the Hamilton County Coalition and other agencies to promote the proper disposal of medications to help protect waterways as well as prevent misuse of medications no longer needed.  This upcoming Saturday, residents may easily drop off unused medications at one of the 10 Hamilton County drop-offs.  Regional drug take back sites will also available in Rhea and Grundy counties. The service is free and anonymous.

 

HAMILTON COUNTY LOCATIONS

Mt. Canaan – 4801 SR-58

Food City, Red Bank – 3901 Dayton Blvd.

Walgreens – 3605 Brainerd Rd.

Walgreens – 2289 Gunbarrel Rd.

Walgreens, East Ridge – 5301 Ringgold Rd.

Walgreens, Ooltewah – 9307 Lee Hwy.

Walgreens, Hixson – 5478 SR-153

Avondale Community Center -1305 Dodson Ave

Elks Lodge #91 – 1067 Graysville Rd.

Food City, Harrison – 8634 Hwy. 58

 

REGIONAL LOCATIONS

Walmart, Dayton – 3034 Rhea County Hwy.

Spring City Police Department – 229 Front St.

Grace Center – 67 Old Highway, #56, Coalmont

 

“The Hamilton County Coalition is proud to partner with law enforcement and community allies like Tennessee American Water to promote safe medication disposal,” says Camilla Bibbs, Executive Director of the Hamilton County Coalition. “As a substance abuse prevention organization, we work to raise awareness of proper medication disposal in homes to reduce potential abuse.”

The following sites will also offer free shredding of personal documents: Walgreens 2289 Gunbarrel Road and Avondale Community Center at 1305 Dodson Avenue.  Regional sites in the central time zone will hold their drug take back events from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time.

More information on other ways customers can participate in source water protection can be found on the Tennessee American Water website, https://www.amwater.com/tnaw/Water-Information/Watershed-Protection/.  To learn more about drug abuse prevention, visit the Hamilton County Coalition’s website.

 

ABOUT AMERICAN WATER

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE:AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

 

ABOUT TENNESSEE AMERICAN WATER

Tennessee American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 380,000 people in Tennessee and north Georgia. For more information, visit www.tennesseeamwater.com.