Cleaning out the medicine cabinet? Not sure what to do about the unused, outdated, or unwanted medications you find? Kerr Drug, a leading provider of pharmacy and other healthcare related services, is offering a new solution. The specially designed TakeAway Environmental Return System Envelopes, made by Sharps Compliance Corporation, will be available at all Kerr Drug stores throughout North Carolina starting May 23rd. The envelopes sell for $3.99. The system offers Kerr Drug customers a safe and convenient way to dispose of non-controlled prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

“Kerr Drug is making it easy for our customers to dispose of unwanted medicines, which prevents the possible misuse of these medications as well as the contamination of North Carolina’s lakes and rivers, many of which are community water supplies,” says Anthony “Tony” Civello, president and CEO of Kerr Drug. “Kerr Drug is a community pharmacy, and that means finding the best way to serve the people in your community. We believe the TakeAway Environmental Return System provides a great service.”

It’s estimated more than 200 million pounds of unused dispensed medications are disposed of improperly across the country every year.

To use the system, customers can place unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, excluding controlled drugs, in the envelope, seal it and then drop it in the mail. The postage-paid envelope is sent to an approved treatment facility, where licensed law enforcement oversees the safe and environmentally-responsible disposal process.

“We’re pleased to be working with forward thinking retailers like Kerr Drug who are helping to resolve the problem of unused medications adversely affecting our water systems and placing people at risk for accidental and improper dosing,” says David P.Tusa, President and CEO of Sharps Compliance. “We are happy to join the list of services Kerr Drug offers in its neighborhood pharmacies and we look forward to the success of the program.”

Controlled medications are excluded from this program because of current federal regulations.