Last weekend, Eden Prairie residents rallied to safely rid their homes of unwanted drugs. In a collective effort to protect the community and environment, Eden Prairie Police Department teamed up with the National Drug Enforcement Administration to host a local Drug Take Back event.

Converging at the Eden Prairie Senior Center, residents came together in a steadfast move to safely discard their unused or expired medications. And when the day closed, the event had amassed a staggering 305 pounds of medications, all destined to not ever stain our landfills or water systems.

For those who couldn't make it to the drop-off, the EPPD proffers a second chance. The department is distributing complimentary home medication disposal bags, according to a bulletin on their official web page.  These bags, designed with activated carbon, neutralize the medication, ensuring it doesn't contaminate the ground or our drinking water. Funded by the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund, the bags can be picked up at Eden Prairie City Center from Monday to Friday.

In the wake of the event, it's clear that the community's efforts bear fruit. However, it should be noted that the EPPD does not accept medication drop-offs at the department. Hennepin County, stepping up to fill that void, offers drop box locations for residents to securely deposit both large and small quantities of medication. Such initiative is critical in the battle to keep our communities and environment free of pharmaceutical pollution.

The EPPD strives to keep the public informed through its ongoing blog posts detailing the community's safety initiatives. Residents looking to stay abreast of these developments are encouraged to check out the Eden Prairie Police Department's blog posts regularly for updates and valuable information.