The Knoxville Police Department and other local sponsors are hosting a one-day collection of unwanted medicines and a used mercury thermometer exchange on Saturday, April 23.

The event will be offered 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the West Town Mall parking lot off Morrell Road.

It’s an easy way for residents to turn in unwanted or outdated prescription medicines, over-the-counter medications and used mercury thermometers for proper disposal.

The goal of the collection is to prevent these pharmaceutical and over-the-counter products from getting into area water resources – or into the hands of children – and to make sure they are disposed of in a safe, environmentally-friendly manner.

Any empty plastic containers left with the event organizers will be recycled.

The effort is part of an ongoing, nationwide effort to reduce the amount of drugs, fragrances, sunscreen products and nutritional supplements that are entering water resources by either being flushed or poured down drains.

Event organizers will be accepting residential and household medications only. Medications from businesses such as doctor’s offices, veterinarian clinics and nursing homes will not be accepted, but there will be qualified staff on site to discuss disposal of those items.

Sponsors of the medicine collection are the City of Knoxville’s Office of Solid Waste, the Knoxville Police Department, the Knox County Health Department, the Knox County Solid Waste Department, Knoxville Utilities Board, the Metropolitan Drug Commission, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Quality RX Returns LLC, Moe’s Southwest Grill, WUOT 91.9, B 97.5, WBIR Channel 10 and the University of Tennessee’s Academy of Student Pharmacists.

Can’t make it to the collection event? Old medicines can be brought anytime to the Knoxville Police Department, 800 Howard Baker Jr. Ave., and deposited in a secure collection container located near the information desk.