PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISPOSAL
SUDS Program
The New Braunfels Fire Department is now offering a free, year-round medication disposal program, funded by a grant from Texas Health and Human Services in cooperation with The Premier Center at the University of Houston. The program, which uses the SUDS (Single Use Disposal System), will be available for residents to safely and securely dispose of expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medication at no cost. SUDS are self-addressed, postage-paid large envelopes that will be available at:
- All New Braunfels Fire Stations
- Fire Station 1 (Central Fire Station): 169 Hill Ave
- Fire Station 2: 159 Water Lane
- Fire Station 3: 1333 Hanz Dr
- Fire Station 4: 2210 Alyssa Way
- Fire Station 5: 1250 W County Line Rd
- Fire Station 6: 209 Stone Gate Dr
- New Braunfels City Hall: 550 Landa St
- Fire Training Building: 424 S Castell Ave
Residents can pick up a SUDS envelope at any of those locations. Once filled with their unused medication, the envelope can then be dropped in any United States Postal Service (USPS) mailbox. The drugs are then delivered to an approved location for proper disposal. There is no charge for the service, and users are not required to put a return address on the envelope. They are asked to anonymously fill out an accompanying postcard in order to give feedback on the effectiveness of the program.
The New Braunfels Fire Department strongly encourages residents to use these envelopes as an alternative to throwing those medications in the trash, or worse, flushing them down home drains. Elderly or homebound residents may find this program especially helpful since a family member, friend, or neighbor can pick up an extra envelope for them.
Funding for this program is made possible by the Texas Targeted Opioid Response Grant (Award Number: H79TI081729) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) with the support of the Texas Health and Humans Services Commission. For more information, contact Danielle Campbell at The Premier Center at the University of Houston by calling 713-743-7016 or email dscampbe@central.uh.edu.
Operation MedSafe
New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) holds Operation MedSafe events where residents care safely and properly dispose of unused pill medications at this event. For dates and event information, visit https://www.nbutexas.com/med-shred/.
Additional Information
The information below is based on information found at the EPA's website and through guidelines published by the Office of National Drug Control Policy as of October 2009.
Traces of a number of pharmaceuticals are found in drinking water. This is in part because our bodies do not process our medicines in their entirety, and traces are excreted in our urine. Additionally, for a number of years, people were advised to flush their medicines down the toilet. Either entry of the drugs into the wastewater system may create problems, as many of these chemicals cannot be filtered through treatment.
On the other hand, when loosely placed in your garbage can, animals, children, and even other adults may gain access to medicine and become poisoned. Additionally, over time, loose medicines degrade into the landfill, through the ground and again into our ground water systems.
Remember:
- Do not flush medicines.
- Do not place loose pills and liquids in your trash
Needles (SHARPS), Syringes & Lancets
Do not flush needles down the toilet. It is not illegal to put your needles in the trash as long as you follow these instructions:
- Place needles in a rigid plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle.
- Pour plaster of paris inside container, which renders the needles useless to scavengers.
- Place a lid on the container and duct tape it shut. Mark the container "SHARPS" and place it in your trash; never place it in your recycle bin.
Click here to read a TCEQ flyer about disposals of SHARPS. The preferred method of needle disposal is filtered incineration. This prevents blood-borne pathogens and medicines from entering the ground water system. There is no known local drop-off program for this service. However, such a service can be purchased and usually involves a mail-back program.