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RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug is giving customers an easy way to safely dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications.
The North Carolina drug store chain said it plans to offer TakeAway Environmental Return System Envelopes, from Sharps Compliance Corp., at all Kerr pharmacies starting on May 23.
The envelopes sell for $3.99. To use the system, customers place the lapsed, unwanted or unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications in the envelope, seal it and then drop it in the mail. The postage-paid envelope is sent to an approved treatment facility, where licensed law enforcement oversees the safe and environmentally responsible disposal process. Controlled medications are excluded from the program because of federal regulations.
"Kerr Drug is making it easy for our customers to dispose of unwanted medicines, which prevents the possible misuse of these medications as well as the contamination of North Carolina’s lakes and rivers, many of which are community water supplies," Kerr Drug president and chief executive officer Tony Civello said in a statement. "Kerr Drug is a community pharmacy, and that means finding the best way to serve the people in your community. We believe the TakeAway Environmental Return System provides a great service."
Sharps Compliance reported that an estimated 200 million-plus pounds of unused dispensed medications are disposed of improperly nationwide each year.
"We’re pleased to be working with forward-thinking retailers like Kerr Drug who are helping to resolve the problem of unused medications adversely affecting our water systems and placing people at risk for accidental and improper dosing," stated David Tusa, president and CEO of Sharps Compliance. "We are happy to join the list of services Kerr Drug offers in its neighborhood pharmacies and we look forward to the success of the program."
Kerr joins a list of other chain drug retailers offering the Sharps TakeAway drug disposal envelopes, including Rite Aid, Walgreens and Kroger.
