The Scioto-Lawrence Solid Waste Management District and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office conducted the annual drug take back Saturday at Ironton Hills Plaza.

“We’re getting anything and everything,” Dan Palmer, solid waste district coordinator, said. “For years people flushed these and they got in our waterways. This is a good avenue to prevent that.”

Pills, liquid medications and sharps were all collected as vehicles kept pulling up to the tent. Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital provided the containers to collect everything.

“It’s very handy to have a drop off like this,” Coal Grove resident Nina Carey said. “It’s good to have a safe way to get rid of stuff you don’t know what to do with.”

Palmer said throughout the duration of the four-hour event, 50 vehicles came through and 65 pounds of pills, 30 pounds of liquid medications and 110 pounds of sharps were collected.

On Friday, another drug take back was conducted in Scioto County where 110 pounds of pills, 40 pounds of liquid medications and 32 pounds of sharps were collected from 66 vehicles.

Along with Palmer, Stephanie Helms and Steve Hileman, of the waste management district, and Deputy John Mahjer, of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, assisted with the drug take back.

In Lawrence County, along with the annual drug take back, the solid waste district also hosts a household hazardous waste event, for pills only, at Dow Chemical in Hanging Rock the last Saturday in September.

Palmer said the Ironton Health Department also takes sharps from Ironton residents anytime to dispose of properly.