Drive-Thru Pharmaceutical Take Back Day Returns for Its Ninth Year to Help Protect Long Island’s Sole-Source Aquifer
The Plainview Water District (PWD) is proud to announce that its ninth annual Pharmaceutical Take Back Day will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at District headquarters, located at 10 Manetto Hill Road. During this convenient drive-thru event, members of the Plainview-Old Bethpage (POB) community can anonymously dispose of unwanted or expired medications without leaving their vehicles.
“Pharmaceutical Take Back Day gives POB residents a convenient opportunity to protect their families, community and shared environment,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “The success of this program is made possible by the many residents who take the time to gather their unwanted medications and bring them to the District for proper disposal. We are grateful for their continued support and look forward to welcoming the community back for our ninth annual event.”
Since the program began, the Plainview-Old Bethpage community has helped the District collect more than 2,300 pounds of unused pharmaceuticals, including 300 pounds during the 2025 event. This continued participation helps keep medications out of local homes and prevents them from being disposed of in ways that may affect Long Island’s sole-source aquifer.
Medications should never be flushed down a toilet or poured into a drain. Because Long Island relies entirely on groundwater for its drinking water supply, materials introduced into the environment have the potential to eventually reach the aquifer. Proper disposal helps reduce that possibility while supporting the District’s broader efforts to preserve the region’s most important natural resource.
“Over the past eight years, the Plainview-Old Bethpage community has consistently demonstrated its commitment to this important initiative,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “Collecting more than 2,000 pounds of medications is a significant achievement, and every contribution helped us reach that total. We encourage residents to check their medicine cabinets and take advantage of this year’s drive-thru event.”
Removing expired or unused medications from the home can also help prevent accidental use, misuse or access by children and other household members. Rather than leaving these products in medicine cabinets or discarding them with household waste, participants can bring them directly to the District for collection and appropriate disposal.
Pharmaceutical Take Back Day is made possible through the District’s partnership with the Nassau County Police Department, whose officers will be onsite to oversee the collection and disposal process. Participants will be directed through the District’s property, where medications will be collected directly from their vehicles.
“Providing an accessible disposal option makes it easier for the community to take an active role in protecting the aquifer,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “This event also shows what can be accomplished when the District, the Nassau County Police Department and our residents work together toward a shared goal. We hope the community will once again help make Pharmaceutical Take Back Day a success.”
The ninth annual Pharmaceutical Take Back Day will be held Saturday, October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Plainview Water District, 10 Manetto Hill Road in Plainview. Participation is anonymous, and residents will not be required to leave their vehicles.
The event is part of PWD’s Preserve Plainview initiative, which provides residents with practical information and opportunities to support water conservation and aquifer protection. Through educational outreach, seasonal guidance and community programs, the District works to help residents understand how everyday actions can contribute to the long-term preservation of Long Island’s groundwater supply.
For further information, or if you have any questions, please call the District at 516-931-6469, email info@plainviewwater.org or visit www.plainviewwater.org. Residents can also sign up to receive information by submitting their email address through the District’s homepage or following the District on Facebook to stay up to date with District activities and initiatives.
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