Residents again have access to a local receptacle designed for the proper disposal of unused, expired, and unwanted prescription drugs at the police station lobby at 3 Main Street.

A large gray steel container, which looks like a US mail drop box, had been in place in the police station lobby for years, but was taken out of service recently so that some security improvements could be made.

The public may use the device free of charge, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, as the police station never closes.

While the receptacle was absent for about six weeks, Newtown police had advised residents to properly dispose of their unwanted medications in receptacles located at the police stations in Bethel, Brookfield, and Redding.

The receptacle has proven popular with residents since its first use several years ago, with many people traveling to the police station to properly dispose of bagfuls of unused and unwanted medications.

In the past, officials had advised the public to dispose of medications by flushing them down toilets. But it was later determined that such disposal could cause groundwater pollution.

The proper disposal of unused medications in approved receptacles reduces the risk of drug abuse by people who would steal such medications from within homes, according to police.

The receptacle positioned in the police station lobby has been certified for drug disposal use by the state Department of Consumer Protection.

Located on the side of drop box is a plastic holster which contains plastic bags and a black marking pen. Police recommend that residents use that pen to obliterate any information on the labels of the bottles of prescription drugs to be put in the receptacle.

Newtown police have some rules on drug disposal in the receptacle.

Prohibited for disposal are syringes, needles, lancets, pen-style needles, aerosol cans, bloody wastes, infectious wastes, hydrogen peroxide, thermometers, intravenous-fluid bags, batteries, trash, and mail.

The receptacle is intended for use by local households, not by businesses.

Police ask that residents not leave in the police station lobby any objects that will not fit into the drop box’s chute. In such cases, residents should ask for assistance at the police station.

People disposing of drugs should not directly pour any liquids into the drop box, but instead place the bottles containing those liquids into one of the plastic bags stored in the holster attached to the drop box, and then place that bagged bottle into the receptacle.

Police periodically remove the discarded drugs from the drop box for their proper destruction.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has periodically conducted prescription drug collection events at the police station for those who want to properly dispose of their unwanted medications.