RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug has become the latest drug chain to offer its customers a way to dispose of expired and unwanted medications.

Late last month the 90-store chain began selling Sharps Compliance Corp.’s TakeAway Environmental Return System envelopes.

The specially designed envelopes sell for $3.99 apiece. Users put their unwanted, unused or outdated prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications in the postage-paid envelope and mail them to an approved treatment facility, where licensed law enforcement officials oversee the safe and environmentally responsible disposal process. Federal regulations exclude controlled substances from the program.

“Kerr Drug is making it easy for our customers to dispose of unwanted medicines, which prevents the possible misuse of these medications as well as the contamination of North Carolina’s lakes and rivers, many of which are community water supplies,” notes president and chief executive officer Tony Civello.

“Kerr Drug is a community pharmacy, and that means finding the best way to serve the people in your community. We believe the TakeAway Environmental Return System provides a great service.”

Law enforcement agencies and environmental groups estimate that more than 200 million pounds of unused dispensed medications are disposed of improperly across the country every year, creating environmental risks and threatening water supplies across the country.

Sharps Compliance executives say that Kerr is the latest chain to join what they hope will become a much more widespread network of retailers offering a way for patients to dispose of unused medications.

“We’re pleased to be working with forward-thinking retailers like Kerr Drug who are helping to resolve the problem of unused medications adversely affecting our water systems and placing people at risk for accidental and improper dosing,” Sharps Compliance president and chief executive officer David Tusa comments. “We are happy to join the list of services Kerr Drug offers in its neighborhood pharmacies, and we look forward to the success of the program.”