June 13, 2014 - Properly disposing of unwanted medications and medical supplies can be a hassle, but Saturday's collection event at a Food City store will make disposal as easy as going to the grocery store.

Collection officials will be on hand at Food City, 4805 N. Broadway in Fountain City, to collect and properly dispose of unwanted medicine and thermometers on Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Every mercury thermometer turned in will be replaced with a digital thermometer, and all plastic medicine containers will be recycled.

The collection event is part of an ongoing effort by the Knoxville Medication Collection Program to prevent unwanted substances from entering Knoxville's rivers, lakes and landfills. Since the effort began in November 2008, more than 5.84 tons of medications have been collected.

The Knoxville Police Department, Knoxville and Knox County Solid Waste Offices, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the University of Tennessee Academy of Student Pharmacists, Hallsdale-Powell Utility District, the Metropolitan Drug Commission, KUB, WBIR TV-Channel 10, Food City and the Knox County Health Department are all part of the effort.

Can't make it to the Food City on Saturday? Citizens can always take old or unused medicines to the Knoxville Police Department Safety Building, 800 Howard Baker Jr. Ave. The Safety Building is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information on proper disposal, visit www.medicationcollection.org.