It’s a safe way of getting rid of those prescription drugs that are no longer needed and just taking up space in a medicine cabinet.

That’s the purpose of the national Prescription Drug Take Back Program that allows individuals to bring in bottles of pills, liquids and other medications for proper disposal.

And this year St. Mary’s Medical Center is teaming up with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste District for the one-day event Saturday, April 30.

“Our goal is to keep them out of the waterways,” Sheriff Jeff Lawless said. “This gives people a safe way to get rid of them. You don’t have them sitting around and have a grandchild harm themselves or you won’t be a target yourself.”

The solid waste district joined the program four years ago with the sheriff’s office signing on the next year.

“With the prevalence of pharmaceutical drugs, we thought why not open it up to Ashland and the Tri-State,” Dan Palmer, director of the solid waste district, said. Palmer got permission from the Detroit office of the Drug Enforcement Agency to do that.

The two agencies are setting up a centrally located drop off point at the Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce building at South Point.

“We are in such close proximity. I have had friends and people in the Tri-State who have seen this program ask about it,” Lawless said. “We felt that it is a need.”

St. Mary’s will have two members from its pharmacy team at the site to offer advice.

“As one of the health care providers in Lawrence County, we felt it was important to be a part of this take-back program,” Doug Korstanje, director of marketing and community relations at the medical center, said. “We know what a problem it was for people who want to dispose of these drugs. We are pleased to be able to partner with the solid waste authority and the sheriff’s department.”

Items that will be accepted include prescription drugs, syringes, needles, pills, liquids and diabetic sharps. Participants in the program are asked to remove their name and address from the bottles.

“That is not totally necessary,” Lawless said. “It would be beneficial. It will be anonymous. You can pull up in your car and hand it to us. We will not be checking to see if that drug is prescribed to you.”

That same day the Lawrence Drug/Major Crimes Task Force will offer additional participating drop off locations.

They will be at the Ironton Hills parking lot; Coal Grove Village Hall parking lot; the Walmart parking lot at Burlington; and the Lawrence County Fairgrounds.

There will be no identification required to participate.

At all five locations there will be a member from a county law enforcement agency either a sheriff’s deputy or an Ironton or Coal Grove police officer.

Drop off times will be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.