New Official Pharmaceutical Collection Site in Moraga
By Sophie Braccini
In October, the Moraga Town Council adopted a resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) to have the Moraga Police Department designated as a pharmaceutical collection site. As a result a specific secured and sealed collection bin will be installed in the lobby of the Police Department at 329 Rheem Blvd. and will be accessible during business hours starting mid November.
"The proposed Pharmaceutical Collection Program developed by CCCSD will benefit the community and environment by providing education and a convenient way to properly dispose of unused or expired pharmaceuticals. Currently, the nearest collection site is located in the lobby of the Walnut Creek Police Department," said Moraga Chief of Police Bob Priebe.
The CCCSD urges residents not to flush medications down the toilet, or dispose of them in regular trash cans, because chemicals will eventually find their way to our fresh water supply reserves that are not equipped to filter hormones or other substances found in medication. The safest way to dispose of medications is to bring them to a pharmaceutical collection center. The closest official site has been in Walnut Creek. Additionally, the Lafayette Police Department allows residents to bring in expired pharmaceuticals and staff will dispose of it as a courtesy service.
Pharmaceutical disposal guidelines: - Medications may be bagged (pills can be placed in a sealed baggie).
Plastic pill bottles can then be recycled.
- Liquid containers should be sealed in a plastic bag to prevent spills.
- If your container will not fit into the drop-chute, pour the contents into a plastic bag and deposit that into the collection box.
- Do not leave any materials that won't fit inside the collection box.
*The following items are not accepted: Needles, lancets, pen needles, or any other "sharps"; Aerosol cans, Bloody or infectious wastes, Hydrogen peroxide (bring to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (HHWCF- 4797 Imhoff Place in Martinez) or pour down the drain), Thermometers (bring to the HHWCF & receive a digital thermometer), V bags.
"The proposed Pharmaceutical Collection Program developed by CCCSD will benefit the community and environment by providing education and a convenient way to properly dispose of unused or expired pharmaceuticals. Currently, the nearest collection site is located in the lobby of the Walnut Creek Police Department," said Moraga Chief of Police Bob Priebe. 
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA