Bend Medication Take-Back event allows Central Oregonians to dispose of medications, sharps safely

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) --  A safe space was provided on Saturday at the Bend Police Department for people to safely dispose of their medications.

It was the sixth year of the Medication Take-Back event, hosted by St. Charles Health System and the Bend Police Department. 

"It's important, because it keeps it out of the hands of people who may abuse it and it also safely dispose of the medication, keeping them out of our water table," said Debra Pedersen, St. Charles pharmacy inventory analyst.

People were able to bring any over-the-counter or prescription medication, as well as sharps (old needles).

Eleven boxes of medications were collected and more than 140 cars came by to drop off their medicine. 

The medications will be weighed on Monday and sent to a processing site. 

Pedersen said, "We collect everything here, and then it's sent to a processing facility that incinerates the medications under many layers of HEPA filters."

During last year's event, people brought in more than 300 pounds of medications and sharps for safe disposal.