Program destroyed over 1,200 pounds of prescription drugs in 2022

Photo by Chad Koenen
A collection box for unwanted perscription drugs is located at the City Center building in New York Mills.

The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office collected and destroyed over 1,247.5 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs in 2022.

The “Take it to the Box” prescription drug collection program started in 2012 and over 5 tons of prescription drugs have been collected and properly disposed of. There are currently eight drop off locations throughout the county. These secure drop boxes are located at various law enforcement centers throughout the county. The boxes are accessible during regular business hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, unless posted otherwise.

Locations:

• Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office – 417 Court Street South – Fergus Falls

• Government Building – 118 N. Main Street – New York Mills

• Perham Police Department – 525 W. Main Street – Perham

• Parkers Prairie Police Department – 102 N. Otter Avenue – Parkers Prairie

• Ottertail Operations Center – 469 Main Street W. – Ottertail

• Pelican Rapids Police Department – 315 N. Broadway – Pelican Rapids

• Battle Lake Police Department – 108 E. Main – Battle Lake

• Henning Police Department – 607 2nd Street – Henning

The program is 100 percent anonymous, no questions asked. Please follow these basic instructions:

• Leave medication in the original container

• Black out or remove your personal information from the label

• Leave the name of the medication on the container

• Drop the medication into the disposal box opening

• Absolutely no syringes, needles, or sharps accepted

• No mercury devices, household chemicals, or biohazardous waste