Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and Hazardous Waste Program Join Forces to Safeguard Medications

(KNSI) – The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with the county’s hazardous waste program to prevent unused medications from ending up in the wrong place.

Stearns County’s Household Hazardous Waste mobile unit is getting ready to help with spring cleaning at ten locations. Its first stop is Saturday, April 27th, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Paynesville Civic Arena. This will be the debut of one of four sites that will take items from the medicine cabinet, so they’re not dumped down the drain or abused by someone who shouldn’t have them.

It’s a free service provided by Stearns County’s Environmental Services Department.

The green HHW trucks drive to communities around Stearns County to collect environmentally hazardous products homeowners want to get rid of, such as adhesives, aerosols, antifreeze, automotive chemicals, bacteria, batteries, car seats, Christmas bulbs, cleaners, fertilizers, fluorescent bulbs, fuels, garden and pool chemicals, gas, motor oil and filters, paints, pesticides, poisons, propane cylinders and many other products that can’t be thrown into the garbage.

The program does not accept appliances, explosives, furniture, household garbage, medical waste, tires or business-related waste.

The other three collections accepting medicines are:

Wednesday, May 8th, at the Sauk Centre Hockey Arena from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 22nd, at the Melrose parking lot north of the fire hall from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 21st, in Kimball at A.M. Maus and Sons car dealership from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The rest of the collections scheduled are listed below:

Wednesday, June 26th, in Holdingford at the school’s southwest lot from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, June 26th, at Albany Our Savior Lutheran Church from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Monday, July 15th in Clear Lake in the lot under the water tower from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 7th, in Richmond at River Lakes Arena from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 14th in St. Martin at the St. Martin Church parking lot from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 14th, in St. Nicholas at St. Nicholas Church from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For residents who can’t make it to one of the mobile collection sites, the Tri-County Household Hazardous Waste Facility, located at 3601 5th Street South in Waite Park, accepts products year-round.

Go to the Stearns County website for times and days of operation.

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