GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The old prescriptions cluttering your medicine cabinets could be dangerous to keep around.

That’s why Meijer launched a drug takeback program. You will now notice locked boxes at every Meijer Pharmacy where you can drop off your old medications during regular pharmacy hours with no questions asked and without even talking to a pharmacist.

“It gives the community and our patients the opportunity to dispose of unused or expired medications safely,” Meijer Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Jamie Vroman said Tuesday.

Every box has instructions printed on top showing you what you can and cannot drop off.

“Basically, there’s no needles disposed in there, no thermometers, no aerosol cans, no lotions. So it does have to be limited, but there are instructions on it,” Vroman explained.

Prescription drugs are a huge part of the opioid epidemic and abuse can open the door to more serious drugs like heroin. Vorman added that some medications can break down into harmful chemicals, making it critical you dispose of them safely after their expiration date.

“It’s just a nice, safe and environmentally friendly way to dispose of these chemicals that we’re no longer using,” she said.

There are other drug takeback options in West Michigan. More information can be found on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website or by calling the Drug Enforcement Administration at 1.800.882.9539.