Hennepin County Expands Medicine Disposal to Minnetonka

Hennepin County residents now have more options to dispose of their unwanted medicines.

Medicine drop boxes have been added at three new locations in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Edina. The expansion builds upon the initial success of the medicine disposal program. Hennepin County has collected more than 2,000 pounds of medicines in the first five months of the medicine disposal drop-box program.

There are now six medicine drop boxes located throughout Hennepin County:

Minnetonka –
12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka MN 55305
Hours: Mon. – Thurs.: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri. – Sat.:10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Brooklyn Center – Hennepin County District Court Brookdale
6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center MN 55430
Hours: Mon. – Thurs.: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Fri. – Sat.: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.,
Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Brooklyn Park – Hennepin County Sheriff Patrol Headquarters
9401 83rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park MN 55445
Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Edina – Hennepin County Library – Southdale
7009 York Ave. S., Edina MN 55435
Hours: Mon. – Thurs.: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri. – Sat.: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Minneapolis – Hennepin County Public Safety Facility
401 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis MN 55415
Hours: 24 hours a day/seven days of week

Spring Park – Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol
4141 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park MN 55384
Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Materials accepted
Medicine from households will be accepted, including:
·        Prescription medicines, including controlled substances
·        Over-the-counter medicines
·        Vitamins and supplements
·        Pet medicines

Not accepted
·        No needles, sharps or syringes
·        No medicines from businesses

Guidelines
·        The green medicine drop boxes are located in the lobby at each location.
·        No ID required.
·        The service is free.
·        Bring medicines in their original containers.
·        The boxes are self-serve. Pull the handle to open and drop the medicine into the box.

Properly disposing of unused medicines is important to prevent abuse or poisoning and protect the environment. Storing medicines in the home poses safety and health threats.

Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem, especially among teens, and accidental poisonings from medicines are on the rise. Medicines flushed down the drain or disposed of in the trash can contaminate bodies of water, harm wildlife and end up in drinking water supplies.

For more information, visit Hennepin County online or call Hennepin County Environmental Services at 612-348-3777.