LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is offering a brand new service to the community.

Starting Monday, Jan. 7, the Lakeport Police Department will have a safe medication disposal collection site available at the police station at 2025 S. Main St.

The safe medication disposal safe was donated to the agency by the Rite Aid Foundation KidCents Project, which is committed to supporting the safety and well-being of children in communities.

Over the past couple of years, members of the community have asked the police department for assistance in disposing of unwanted or expired prescription or over-the-counter medications. Police officials said this donation assisted them in being able to collect the medication for proper disposal.

Examples of what Lakeport Police will accept include all over-the-counter or prescription medication in pill, tablet or capsule form, including schedule II-V controlled and non-controlled substances.

Examples of items they will not accept with this program are illegal drugs, needles, liquids, inhalers or aerosol cans.

The police department said the purpose of this program is to keep the community safe by removing unwanted or expired medications from homes or other locations and away from children.

There is no cost for community members to dispose of the described medications at the police station and they will not collect information on people disposing of them.

Medications will be accepted each business day, Monday through Thursday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Persons bringing in medications will be required to check in with a department staff member so that they can verify that only acceptable items are being placed in the container.

Additionally, all medications shall be in their original container, other suitable plastic pill container or sealed plastic freezer bag.

If the prescription medications are in the original container, it’s recommended that personal information be removed from the label.