A total of 862 pounds of unused prescription pills were collected throughout Butler County on Sept. 29 during National Prescription Drug Take Back.

“Everyone who brings something in is doing their part to keep (the pills) out of the environment, from getting into the public water system and off the streets,” said Sgt. Matthew Tombragel of West Chester Twp.

The collected medications are incinerated in a safe, environmentally-friendly manner according to Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, said Karen Murray, director of Butler County Coalition. The effort is a collaboration among the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, local law enforcement agencies and community coalitions, she said.

Local communities that participated last week included Hamilton, Middletown, Trenton, Monroe and the townships of Ross, Fairfield, West Chester and Liberty.

Tombragel said the process of dropping off pills is made to be “user-friendly” to ensure a high response from the public.

“There’s really no clear, defined way for people to get rid of their medications,” Tombragel said. “Especially with seniors who have had medical issues and have a closet full of prescriptions and don’t know what to do with them.”

Middletown collected the most with 208 pounds.

Patrolman Chris Alfrey said the city’s permanent drop box is is a big reason why.

“We only collected about 30 pounds last Saturday,” Alfrey said. “It’s a great program and we hope to get more people participating every year.”

Alfrey said the one-day event typically takes place every spring and fall, and next year they are considering moving to the senior center for better accessibility.

The coalition has partnered with local police agencies to offer various permanent locations of prescription drop boxes inside the police station lobby: City of Fairfield, 5230 Pleasant Ave.; Middletown, 1 Donham Plaza; Monroe, 233 S. Main St.; Butler County Sheriff’s Office, 705 Hanover St.; and Ross Twp., 3133 Hamilton-Cleves Road.

“The police departments are really the unsung heroes here because with tight budgets they’re still the ones continuing to staff the sites and take on the responsibility of the boxes,” Murray said.

Butler County has collected more than 6,500 pounds in unused medications since 2010, when it began participating in National Take Back events, according to Murray.