Drugs should be brought in their original containers for disposal.

Betty Curtis, executive director of the Hall County Clean Community System, said the organization has collected drugs as part of bigger hazardous waste disposal programs, both in Grand Island and in Seward.

"We collected 100 pounds in Grand Island and 34 pounds in Seward," Curtis said. "That might not sound like a lot, but when you put those pills in your hand, they don't weigh a lot."

She said the effort collected all kinds of drugs, ranging from those that might be addictive to blood pressure medications.

Curtis said people are asked to keep the drugs in their original containers so collectors will know what they are dealing with. They can cross their name off the container if they are concerned about privacy.

If there is a good response from the public, similar collections will be held periodically throughout the year.

Improper disposal of drugs causes a wide array of pharmaceuticals to contaminate the environment, Curtis said. In particular, flushing drugs down the toilet can lead to contamination of the groundwater and of aquatic life.

As a result, Curtis said, the most effective way to stop contamination is to stop the flushing of those unwanted and expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

The growing elderly population consumes an ever-greater amount of medications. Removing unwanted or expired drugs reduces the chances of a medication mistake, exposure to children and the opportunity for abuse.