Presque Isle police end prescription drug and sharp needle disposal program

3 months ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle Police Department announced it will no longer be offering the prescription drug and sharp needle disposal program.

The announcement came through the police department’s Facebook page on Monday, Jan. 15 and left some residents wondering where they can dispose of their prescription drugs, or sharp needles.

The Presque Isle police have officially ended the contract with the prescription disposal company Inmar Intelligence and will eventually get rid of the needle disposal kiosk inside the police department, according to Deputy Police Chief Chris Hayes. He declined to comment further on the recent decision.

What residents can do to dispose of sharp needles is to put them in a rigid plastic container like a bleach bottle then duct tape the container shut and dispose of them, said Mark Draper, Solid Waste Director of Aroostook Solid Waste Solutions.

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — January 17, 2024 — A sharp needle disposal container that is available in pharmacies for residents to purchase and dispose of safely at home. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)

Presque Isle residents can dispose of their prescription drugs at the City Drug Store located on 159 Academy St., but the pharmacy doesn’t offer needle disposal.

For needle disposal, there are containers people can purchase at the City Drug Store and other pharmacies. The cost of a needle disposal container is under $10.

The Presque Isle Police also put out guidelines on its Facebook page for disposing of needles as recommended by the Food and Drug Administration.