The Big Red Barrel Project
The Big Red Barrel Project Partners with Recycle Livingston
In an effort to make it more convenient to dispose of unused medications and to keep them out of the landfills and water sources, the Big Red Barrel will be at the Recycle Livingston drop-off located at 170 Catrell in Howell the first Saturday of each month. Please be aware that Recycle Livingston closes on holiday weekends and for severe weather. Call Recycle Livingston at 517.548.4439 if you have any concerns about site closures.
Note: This service is only available on the first Saturday of each month. No medications or sharps will be accepted on any other site day.
2024 Dates: Saturdays only january 6 * february 3 * March 2 * April 6 * May 4 * June 1 * July 13 August 3 * September 7 * October 5 * NOvember 2 * December 7
Some of these dates are not the first Saturday but the second Saturday of the month due to holiday closures.
Some Thoughts on Why this is important
Heroin addiction typically starts with the abuse of prescription medications, specifically heavy painkillers. After numerous drug overdoses, members of the Livingston County Community Alliance (LCCA) wanted a place where people could safely dispose of unwanted medication.
The thinking was that with permanent prescription drug collection units available for community use, drug abuse and heroin overdoses would decrease. With the help of local businesses, law enforcement and other community members, the LCCA designed the barrel.
In April 2011 the first unit was placed at the Michigan State Police Post in Brighton and the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department. Today every Michigan State Police Post in the state has a Big Red Barrel. There are now over 80 barrels in the state. Since then, the Big Red Barrel effort has resulted in the secure and environmentally safe disposal of over 15 tons of pills.
How to Best Recycle These Material and Sharps
To properly dispose of pills in the Big Red Barrel, dump the pills out of the container and into a zip lock bag. The pills can be mixed in the bag. We prefer not to have the package that the pills come in because it has personal information.
Please remove the label or black it out if you leave the pills in the package. For liquids, put enough paper towels in a zip lock bag to absorb the liquid, dump the liquid in the bag and dispose of the container. Do not mix liquid medications in the same bag. We will take medications in the original package and we will remove and dispose the personal information from the package, we just prefer not to.
On behalf of the Livingston County Drain Commission, we will collect “sharps” (needles and syringes) but they must be properly packaged. You may choose to purchase a disposal container from a pharmacy or use a liquid detergent bottle with the twist lid taped shut.
The unused medications that are collected are taken to an approved incinerator. Please do not flush medications down the toilet.
For further information, please contact Don Root, Livingston County Community Alliance at 248-875-8370 or visit www.livingstoncountycommunityalliance.org