Safe Medication Disposal

The IAWWTF is proud to be the founding member of the Tompkins County Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal (CSMD). As of 2020, the CSMD has collected more than 8 tons of medications for safe disposal.

In addition to twice a year one day collection events there are ten permanent drug drop boxes in Tompkins County (see below)

Medication take back helps our community decrease illegal diversion of controlled substances, which feed the opioid epidemic. Take back also decreases both environmental contamination and the chance of accidental poisonings.

The CSMD is also having a positive impact at the state and national level. With the help of Park Productions at Ithaca College, the CSMD created a series of how-to videos on organizing a drive-thru take back event. We also contributed to the creation of a national Go-To-Guide to Drug Take Back
Safe Drug Disposal Portal

The CSMD is proud to have helped draft and pass the 2018 Drug Take Back Act in New York State. This Product Stewardship legislation requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to organize and pay for a statewide take back program. Implementation of the Act was delayed and then COVID-19 hit. Once is is finally implemented, all pharmacy chains with ten or more store in NYS must provide free take back. In Tompkins County, this will include CVS, Kinney, Walgreens (Rite Aid), Tops, Walmart, and Wegmans.