Permanent drug drop boxes are a convenient way community members can safely dispose of unused and expired medications.
 
Long-term medicine cabinet storage can lead to a misuse of expired prescription and nonprescription (for example, over the counter) medications by family, friends, or other visitors. If thrown in the trash, these medications can fall into the hands of people who have no medical use for them. If flushed down a toilet or poured down a drain, unused medications can contaminate the community’s water supply.
 
That's why Aurora Medical Center - Burlington encourages community members to dispose of medications year-round at a permanent drug drop box located within their hospital lobby. Community members are invited to remove their personal information from the medication packaging then place them in the drop box. The medications are then collected from the drop box by the hospital pharmacy and are safely disposed of.
 
In 2023, the Aurora Medical Center - Burlington disposed of 275 pounds of unused medication collected through their drop box.