Tulsa Company Partners With Narcotics Bureau To Destroy Drugs

A Tulsa firm is partnering with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics to destroy unused medications - at no cost to the state of Oklahoma. Covanta Energy is converting the waste material into clean energy, according to a release from the OBN.

The Narcotics Bureau has collected and destroyed nearly 30,000 pounds of unwanted home medications in the two years of its statewide drug disposal program, the release states. All 77 Oklahoma counties are participating.

To date, 126 disposal boxes have been placed in law enforcement lobbies to collected expired drugs.

"It's unnecessary and unsafe to leave outdated drugs in the house," said OBN spokesman Mark Woodward. "Old, expired medications left in the home can be targeted by users."

The boxes are an easier, faster way for the public to dispose of prescription medication without waiting for an official take-back day, Woodward said.

OBN Director R. Darrell Weaver believes the program is responsible for saving lives around the state.

"I am very proud of the prescription take back program which is the national model for addressing this issue across the country," he said. "If we save one life, it will be worth it."

The Henry Bellmon Award for Excellent was awarded to the OBN/Covanta partnership in 2012, according to the release.

See a full list of drop-off locations.