May 18th, 2023
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Monroe County Executive Adam Bello today announced the return of the Department of Environment Services’ Mobile Pharmaceutical Waste Collection program.
“Proper disposal of pharmaceutical waste protects our environment and our families and helps us fight the opioid epidemic,” said County Executive Bello. “Each of us must do our part to ensure a cleaner and safer future for generations to come. With this pharmaceutical waste collection initiative, we’re making it easier for residents to do their part and safely dispose of hazardous waste.”
Monroe County is partnering with Wegmans to hold three mobile pharmaceutical waste collections. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and local police agencies are assisting at each Wegmans location. Appointments are not required.
“We all play a role in keeping pharmaceutical waste out of the hands of our families and community,” said Monroe County Sheriff Todd K. Baxter. “Spending a few minutes going through your medicine cabinet and properly disposing unused or expired prescription medications can make a profound impact. I thank Wegmans and Monroe County for their partnership in this initiative and for their efforts in curbing the Opioid epidemic.”
“Wegmans has partnered with Monroe County in support of the Mobile Pharmaceutical Waste Collection program for the past 14 years,” said Carl Juliano, Wegmans Rochester pharmacy coordinator. “We recognize the need in the community, and holding these events at our stores just makes sense to help maximize the number of people who might benefit. Being a good partner in the communities we serve is very important to us.”
Three mobile pharmaceutical collection events will be held at Wegmans this spring and summer. All are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.:
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Saturday May 20 - Calkins Road Wegmans, 745 Calkins Road, Henrietta
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Saturday July 22 - Eastway Wegmans, 1955 Empire Blvd, Penfield
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Saturday September 9 - Mt. Read Wegmans, 3701 Mt. Read Blvd., Rochester
Acceptable items at the sites listed above include pills & liquid medications, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, empty medicine bottles, ointments & creams, sprays & inhalers, and EpiPens. Sharps and syringes will be accepted.
Residents may also dispose of pharmaceutical waste, as well as sharps and syringes, from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at Monroe County/WM ecopark, located at 10 Avion Drive in Chili. For more information, visit: www.monroecounty.gov/ecopark.
In 2022, Monroe County collected a total of 17 tons of pharmaceutical waste from the ecopark and dropbox collections at Monroe County Sheriff’s Office substations and town and village police departments.
In addition to the mobile pharmaceutical collection events, Monroe County is also hosting a series of upcoming mobile household hazardous waste collection events in participating suburbs. Residents drop off up to 30 gallons of chemicals such as paint, automotive fluids, fertilizers, household cleaners and pool chemicals at no charge.
Appointments are required for all household hazardous waste collections, and may be made by visiting the ecopark website at www.monroecounty.gov/ecopark. Any resident of Monroe County is welcome to schedule an appointment to dispose of household hazardous waste at any location.
The household hazardous waste collection schedule is as follows:
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June 10th – Ogden DPW, 2432 S. Union St.
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September 16th – Webster DPW, 1005 Picture Parkway
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October 14th – Greece DPW, 647 Long Pond Rd.
