The City of Knoxville Police Department and other local sponsors are hosting a one-day collection of outdated or unwanted medications and a used mercury thermometer exchange on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Belew Drugs, 2021 N. Broadway, in the Broadway Shopping Center.

It’s an easy way for residents to turn in unwanted or outdated prescription medicines, over-the-counter medications and swap out used mercury thermometers for proper disposal in exchange for a new thermometer.

The goal of the collection is to prevent these pharmaceutical and over-the-counter products from getting into area water resources – or into the hands of children – and to make sure they are disposed of in a safe, environmentally-friendly manner.

Any empty plastic containers and paper packaging left with the event organizers will be recycled.

The effort is part of an ongoing, nationwide effort to reduce the amount of drugs, fragrances, sunscreen products and nutritional supplements that are entering water resources by either being flushed or poured down drains.

KPD will be accepting residential and household medications. Quality Rx Returns LLC will be available to accept medications from businesses such as doctor’s offices, veterinarian clinics and nursing homes.

Sponsors of the event are the City of Knoxville’s Office of Solid Waste, the Knoxville Police Department, WUOT 91.9, the Knox County Health Department, the Knox County Solid Waste Department, the Metropolitan Drug Commission, Knoxville Utilities Board, the Quality RX Returns LLC, Belew Drugs, Chick-fil-A, ACE Hardware, WBIR TV CH-10, and the University of Tennessee’s Academy of Student Pharmacists.

Can’t make it to the collection event? Old medicines can be brought anytime to the Knoxville Police Department, 800 Howard Baker Jr. Ave., and deposited in a secure collection container located near the information desk.