Two tons of waste collected by Sanitary District 2 at event

Two tons of waste was collected on Saturday, May 21 at the Baldwin Sanitary District Number Two’s “She the Meds” event. During the day residents could come to the sanitary garage and office to dispose of documents, electronic waste, and unwanted prescription medication.

Commissioner Jerry Brown says the program has been successful for several years and “this year even more so after the recent cancellations of these programs due to the pandemic.” He says the purpose of the program is twofold, “Proper disposal of unused prescription drugs reduces the risk of accidental poisoning.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, medicines are the most common poison exposure category in the U.S. and Brown says that “Unfortunately, when medicines are not stored or discarded properly, people can get sick, overdose and/or die. Proper disposal also reduces the risk of these medications falling into the hands of small children.”

He continued that, “Additionally, safe disposal helps protect the environment. Improper disposal of medications, such as pouring them down the drain or flushing them down the toilet, can potentially pollute local waterways.”

Nassau County legislator Debra Mulé visited the event, to which she was a co-sponsor, to thank the sanitation district for their service to the Baldwin community. “Shed the Meds events are a simple and proactive way to protect the environment and combat prescription drug abuse,” legislator Mulé said.

“I applaud Sani 2 and their community partners for continuing to provide the communities they serve with these secure and convenient opportunities to properly dispose of their unused medication,” Mulé concluded.

The event was sponsored by the Town of Hempstead Employees Federal Credit Union, community organizations, Debra Mulé and her partners in government. Other nearby area’s such as South Hempstead and Roosevelt residents could also come to securely dispose of unwanted prescription medication, electronic waste, and documents containing sensitive personal data.