440 pounds of unwanted medication collected

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has collected 440 pounds of unwanted medication from Cook County residents.

Police at three sites collected the medicine Saturday during the sixth national organized prescription drug take-back. They announced the collection results Wednesday.

At the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant in Skokie, 251 pounds were collected. The Stickney site in Cicero took in 149 pounds and 40 pounds were turned in at the Calumet station on the city’s South Side.

Water Reclamation District executive director David Pierre says it’s important to responsibly dispose of unwanted prescription medicine. He says wastewater treatment plants cannot remove the pharmaceutical products if they are flushed or poured down a drain.

Permanent drop-box locations are available at five police department area centers.