By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Morris County announced that the first collection day of the Operation Take Back program yielded 216 pounds and 18 bags of surrendered medications.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll stated Operation Take Back is a semi-annual event coordinated nationally by the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in which law enforcement agencies at the state, county, and municipal level work collectively to host Operation Take Back across the nation.
Officials said the goal of Operation Take Back is to encourage the public to anonymously turn over unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medicine, which was weighed and properly disposed of by law enforcement officials.
According to officials, residents of Morris County were able to bring unused or expired prescription drugs to three designated locations staffed by county law enforcement: Shoprite of Greater Morristown in Hanover Township, the ACME Supermarket in Randolph, and the Stop and Shop Supermarket in Morris Plains.
The total weight of materials collected from each location is as follows officials say:
• Shoprite of Greater Morristown: 59 pounds
• Stop and Shop of Morris Plains: 87 pounds
• ACME of Randolph: 70 pounds Total: 216 pounds
Authorities said that in 2023, the Operation Take Back collections held in spring and autumn in Morris County locations yielded a combined 488 pounds.
Prosecutor Carroll, Sheriff Gannon, Hanover Township Chief Loock, Morris Plains Borough Chief of Police Koroski, Morris Township Chief of Police Shearer, and Randolph Township Chief of Police Harzula expressed their appreciation to the public for supporting this program to properly dispose of unused medication, officials said.
Officials say residents can utilize any other permanent drop box locations listed at http://safehealthymorris.org/dropbox.