HOUSTON — Kroger Co. has teamed up with Sharps Compliance Corp. to offer safe disposal of expired, unused or unwanted medications via its pharmacies.
Sharps said Wednesday that its TakeAway System Envelope Solution is now available at pharmacies inside Kroger Co. supermarkets, which operate under various banners in 31 states. The specially designed, prepaid-postage envelopes provide a convenient, environmentally responsible way to dispose of unused, expired or unwanted non-controlled prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.
Kroger pharmacy customers simply place the unwanted or expired medicines in the envelope, seal it and drop it in a U.S. Postal Service mailbox. The envelope then is delivered to an approved medication incinerator, where a licensed law enforcement official oversees the safe and environmentally friendly disposal process.
Sharps noted that the TakeAway system addresses a rising national concern about children and teens accessing unused medications, as well as the environmental hazards of improper drug disposal.
"We are excited that our TakeAway System will now be available in Kroger pharmacies," David Tusa, president and chief executive officer of Sharps Compliance, said in a statement. "We estimate that more than 200 million pounds of unused dispensed medications each year are disposed of improperly and as a result are adversely affecting our water systems and placing our citizens at risk for accidental poisonings. We believe our cost-effective and convenient solutions are ideal for addressing these issues."
Drug store chain Rite Aid Corp. introduced the Sharps TakeAway drug disposal envelopes in its pharmacies in mid-March.
Sharps had relaunched the TakeAway system in January upon meeting newly defined and enhanced requirements by U.S. Postal Service regarding the mailing of unused, noncontrolled medications and OTC medicines for proper disposal.
