The Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) will host its annual DEA Drug Take Back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22 at City Hall.

MIPD Officer Chad Schumacher and Evidence Technician Kelly Donnelly will be on hand to take your unwanted prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The drugs will be packaged and transported to the DEA, who will arrange to have them destroyed in a manner that is safe for the environment, and legal.

You can remove the labels from containers or leave them on. The items are packaged in a box that is secured with many layers of tape, then incinerated.

Do not flush drugs down the toilet, as that’s not good for water quality or for fish.

Mark your calendars, do a little fall cleaning and plan to drop off your drugs at the event. MIPD will take unused chemo drugs and anything else that falls into the drug category, including expired EpiPens. Advise the officers if you are turning in an item with a needle, such as the pens.