The Great Neck Water Pollution Control District (GNWPCD) held its ninth biannual Shed the Meds event at the District headquarters on May 1. Traffic steadily made its way through the contactless drive-thru site—amounting to 179 cars that collectively dropped off more than 320 pounds of unused or expired pharmaceuticals as well as 91 pounds of medical sharps.

Since the event began six years ago, the District has now collected close to 4,000 pounds of unused pharmaceuticals and medical sharps. The District’s Shed the Meds event is also one of the only places where residents can safely dispose of medical sharps on Long Island, as most local police precincts, healthcare locations and other pharmaceutical take-back day events do not accept these materials.

“Our Shed the Meds event is one of the most valuable programs we offer to the Great Neck community, as we provide residents with the opportunity to quickly and safely dispose of their unused pharmaceuticals and medical sharps, something which can be difficult to find elsewhere in our area,” said GNWPCD Chairwoman Patty Katz. “It is encouraging to see so many of our neighbors come out every six months to participate in this program, which always reaffirms our belief that Great Neck residents have as much care and respect for our environment as any other community on Long Island.”

The biannual event, hosted in partnership with Reach Out America, Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition, Nassau County Police, and the Key Club at Great Neck North High School, aims at protecting local water sources and raising awareness of the dangers of flushing pharmaceuticals down the toilet.

“The GNWPCD’s role in the community centers around the protection of our natural environment,” said GNWPCD Commissioner Steve Reiter. “Shed the Meds not only helps us do this to an even greater degree, but it also allows our residents to play a part as well. We are so proud of our community for consistently showing such enthusiasm for this event and working alongside us in preserving the health of our waterways.”

Elected officials including Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti and Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey were on hand during the event to show their support and assist District officials in collecting materials from residents.

“Seeing such support from residents and elected officials shows us that our community believes in our mission and everything we do here at the GNWPCD,” said GNWPCD Commissioner Jerry Landsberg. “The Shed the Meds event’s continued success is a major point of pride in our community, and we are excited to see our residents come out and protect their environment once again in the fall.”

For additional information and updates about the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, visit the website at www.gnwpcd.net to sign up for email newsletters or call the office at 516-482-0238.