Why Dispose of Medications Properly?

Don’t Rush to Flush! Our residential septic systems and wastewater treatment plants are not designed to break down the chemicals that make up medications. Therefore, if we flush expired or unused medications, we can contaminate the creeks, rivers, lakes, wells and groundwater.

Accidental Poisonings! Per the Poison Control Center, 55% of accidental poisonings occur with children 5 years old and younger. The risk of a child or grandchild from accidentally ingesting medications increases when we store expired or unused medications in our homes!

“Pharm” Parties! This consists of the collection of a variety of medications and then being randomly ingested. This leads to the misuse of prescription & over-the-counter medications and is a growing problem. If medications are disposed of properly and regularly, the opportunity for medications to be taken from our homes and misused decreases.

Free Medicine Collection Bins

Ern K Hudson Justice Center  – 1905 Indianapolis Avenue, Lebanon – Open 24/7

Zionsville Police Department – 1075 Parkway Drive, Zionsville – Open 24/7

Lebanon Police Department –  201 East Main Street, Lebanon

Thorntown Police Department – 107 West Main Street, Thorntown

Acceptable Items

Prescription Medications (including controlled & non-controlled pills, liquids, & patches)

Over-the-Counter Medications

Vitamins & Supplements

Pet Medications

It has been estimated that as many as three billion used sharps/needles are generated in homes and other unregulated sites throughout the U.S. Current sharp disposal regulations only apply in the health care settings such as doctors’ offices & hospitals. This leaves family members, solid waste haulers & recycling workers exposed to the possibilities of injuries and/or exposure to infectious diseases.
To help deter this issue, the District has sponsored a safe sharps disposal program in conjunction with the Boone County Health Department since 2001.

Steps for Safe Sharps Disposal

1. Pick up a FREE sharps disposal container at the Boone County Health Department.

2. Fill the container with sharps only.

3. Return the container back to the Boone Co. Health Dept. They will dispose of it safely & properly.

* If you find a needle in a public area, DO NOT PICK IT UP, contact your local law enforcement immediately through their non-emergency phone number 765-482-1412. They will pickup and dispose of the syringe appropriately!

The District sponsors an annual REUSE Heart & Sole program around Valentine’s Day.  REUSE Heart & Sole is a District wide shoe collection event where we can provide shoes to a new pair of feet!

We typically don’t think much about our shoes.  We outgrow them, wear them out, or change styles without much thought as to what happens when we discard them.  The truth is that discarded shoes can take over 200 years to decompose in a landfill which is a shame when there are so many people in need of shoes locally and all over the world.

In past collections, we have had schools, libraries & other organizations participate as collection locations.  If you are interested in hosting a collection spot, please contact the District office.  The District supports Changing Footprints, a Central Indiana non-profit that redistributes shoes to those in need all over Central Indiana.

Volunteers from Milestone Contractors and the District during the 2024 collection!

Did you know that there is a Federal Law (U.S. Flag Code, Public Law 829 approved 12/22/42) in regards to the proper disposal of the American Flag?  The U.S. Flag Code states, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

A dignified manner requires the burning ceremony to be a respectful and private event.  To ensure a proper ceremony is held by a partnership with the local fire chiefs, please consider disposing of your flags in one of the collection bins throughout the County:

• Boone County Veteran’s Affairs Office (Main Street Lobby of Key Bank, Lebanon)
• Boone County Courthouse
• Lebanon Municipal Building
• Both Lebanon Fire Stations
• Zionsville Fire Station
• Whitestown Municipal Building
• Jamestown Fire Department
• Advance Fire Department
• Thorntown Fire Department
• Center Twp. Fire Department
• Thorntown Public Library*

*The library’s collection is passed onto the local American Legion post where they host an annual ceremony for proper disposal.

The District is pleased to offer an opportunity to learn about recycling and earn a recycled plastic bench for an organization in Boone County.

The participating organization will collect, sort and clean 200# of plastic caps and the District will sponsor the fee for a solid colored six-foot bench with back.  The District has a partnership with Green Tree Plastics in Evansville, Indiana.  Green Tree Plastics is the parent company of the “ABC” program.

The bench earned through the program must remain at an organization located in Boone County.  Each organization has the opportunity to earn one bench per calendar year on a first come, first serve basis.

Current Groups Collecting:
~ Boone County Government – jlawrence@co.boone.in.us
​

America Recycles Day (ARD) first started as Texas Recycles Day in 1994 as the idea of two employees of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at the time. 

In 1999, President Clinton signed a proclamation on America Recycles Day, making it a nationally observed. 

In the proclamation, the President promoted the environmental and economic benefits of recycling and emphasized the need for Americans to continue to recycle and buy recycled products. 

The National Recycling Coalition continued advertising for the event, achieving 3,000 events across all 50 states in 2007. 

In 2009, Keep America Beautiful took ownership of the holiday and still manage its promotion today.  Each year, the Boone County Solid Waste Management District hosts a collection in honor of America Recycles Day.