If you have unwanted drugs around, today, April 30, you can turn them in for proper disposal.

The Bellevue Police Department is participating in National Take Back Prescription Drugs Day. The event is designed to help people properly dispose of unused medications, says officer Carla Iafrate. It’s unsafe to keep old medication around the home, and bad for the environment to throw it away with your garbage, she says.

Today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bellevue Police will have three locations throughout the city set up to collect drugs, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and illegal drugs. No identification will be required or requested. There will be a uniformed Police Officer available to assist people who want to turn in unused and unwanted medications at the following locations:

• City Hall Bellevue Police Lobby, 450 110th Avenue NE
• Crossroads Community Police Station, 1336 156th Avenue NE, next to Chipotle
• Factoria Community Police Station, 3915 Factoria Boulevard SE, near Nordstrom Rack

Due to the hazardous nature of some items, the sites can’t accept intravenous solutions, injectibles, syringes, or medical waste.

 The following pharmacies are also participating in the event:, but will not accept illegal drugs:

• Group Health Cooperative, Factoria Medical Center Pharmacy, 13451 SE 36th St.
• Bartell Drugs, Bellevue Village Pharmacy, 10116 NE 8th St
• Group Health Cooperative, Bellevue Medical Center Pharmacy, 11511 NE 10th St.

The police department is encouraging people to remove identifying information from prescription labels.

Sean Baze, a spokesman for the event, says drugs collected on the west side of the state will be sent to Portland to be properly destroyed in a waste incinerator. At the last event, in September, more than 9,000 pounds of drugs were collected and destroyed, he says.

For more information visit the website for Take Back Your Meds