CORNELIUS – The Cornelius Police Department and Rite Aid Pharmacy will host Operation Medicine Drop on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Rite Aid parking lot at 21500 Catawba Ave., adjacent to the Cornelius Police Department.

Operation Medicine Drop is a free event that offers the public a safe and secure way to dispose their medications. Residents can dispose expired, unused prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications.

Since 1999, nearly 4,500 people have died from prescription poisoning. Disposing of medicine in the trash or by flushing down the toilet is harmful to the environment.