By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday from 10 to 2, and Illinois American Water is encouraging customers to participate.

Spokesperson Karen Cotton speaks of the day’s importance.

“What that means is area police departments participate in taking back unwanted medications. They can be over the counter or prescription medications that are no longer needed. It’s actually really good timing, because a lot of people are doing their spring cleaning, so people can clean out their medicine cabinets and get rid of items they no longer need and do it safely. Participating police departments will collect them then the Drug Enforcement Agency actually sponsors this event and they make sure the drugs that are collected are disposed of through incineration, so they don’t get into the water supply, they don’t get flushed down the drain, they don’t get into landfills and they don’t also get misused and abused,” Cotton said.

To find a participating collection site, visit deadiversion.usdoj.gov.