Unused Medication

Do not flush unused or expired medication down the toilet. These substances will make their way to our treatment plant causing potentially harmful effects to our environment. It is also unsafe to throw medication where children or pets may find it. If improperly disposed of, these substances filter into the groundwater and end up in our lakes and streams.

Dropbox

With a grant from CVS, the Elmira City Hall, The Town Hall of Elmira and Horseheads Village Hall have installed a drug/prescription dropbox in their lobbies for the public to use during their regular business hours with no questions asked. Also, with a grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation, your local Gerould's Pharmacy now has a drop-off box.

The Chemung County Sheriff's Office takes part in the Drug Enforcement Administration's nationwide Prescription Drug "Take Back" Initiative held in the Spring and Fall seasons. You may also check with your local pharmacy as many now allow the safe drop-off of drugs/prescriptions.

Chemung County residents are encouraged to turn in their expired and unused medications for proper disposal. Residents are asked to keep the medications in their original containers with the label intact. However, they may blacken out their name/personal information.

Contact

If you have questions in reference to the National Take-Back Initiative, you may call the Sheriff's Office at 607-737-2987 or visit the Drug Enforcement Administration website for further information.

Disposing of prescription drugs through community collection programs keeps them out of the hands of those for whom they were not prescribed, and also keeps them out of our local water supply. To learn more about prescription drug disposal, please view the Office of Diversion Control website.