Safely Dispose of Unwanted Medications During One-Day Event April 25
Area residents can safely dispose of unused and expired medications on Saturday, April 25 at two, one-day drug take-back locations within the Region D Recycling and Solid Waste Management District.
The Buchanan County Sheriff and St. Joseph Police Departments, in cooperation with Youth Alliance Partners for Prevention, will offer a drug take-back event at the west East Hills Parking Lot from 10 am to 2 pm on April 25. Controlled, non-controlled, and over-the-counter substances and sharps (needles and syringes), will be collected for safe disposal at the St. Joseph location.
The Gower Police Department will also be collecting unwanted medications from 10 am to 2 pm on April 25 at 97 N. 4th Street, Gower, MO 64454. No liquids, sharps, or inhalants will be accepted at the take-back event in Gower.
Both sites are being offered in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Take Back Day, which hosts a website with resources and a collection site locator for one-day events happening across the country: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday. In October 2025, 286 tons of unwanted medications were collected through the nationwide, one-day take-back event.
“These semi-annual take-back events present an opportunity and reminder that medications can be harmful to our environment and should be disposed of accordingly,” said Hayley Howard, Region D coordinator. “Properly disposing of medication is a simple way for area residents to help keep their communities safe.”
There are other options for those who can’t make the April 25 event. For a listing of local businesses that take unwanted medications year-round, visit: https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e2s1. The Andrew, Buchanan and Clinton County Sheriff’s offices all have unwanted medication collection boxes in their lobbies that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
