MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Coon Rapids Police Will Collect Unused Prescriptions October 24 as North Metro Residents Review Medication Disposal Options

COON RAPIDS, MN (October 19, 2026). Coon Rapids police will accept unused and expired prescription medications Saturday, October 24, giving residents a scheduled opportunity to remove unwanted drugs from their homes.

The Police Department, 11155 Robinson Drive, will serve as a collection site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

The city’s October announcement encourages residents to bring medications they no longer need for responsible disposal and identifies prevention of medication misuse as a purpose of the collection.

October Event Is Separate From Spring Collection

The October 24 collection is a new event date. Residents who participated in the spring take-back effort can use the fall event to review medications that have since expired or are no longer needed.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration coordinates National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and maintains resources for finding authorized collectors outside the scheduled events.

Its collection program provides a disposal route for unwanted medications, while year-round collectors give residents additional options when an event’s hours do not fit their schedules.

County Directory Lists Other Local Locations

Anoka County maintains a separate prescription drug take-back directory covering police departments and pharmacies throughout the North Metro.

The county says there is no charge at its listed take-back sites and people can remain anonymous. It advises residents to confirm hours with the individual location.

Listed law enforcement locations include the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office in Andover and police departments in Anoka, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Fridley, Lino Lakes, Ramsey and St. Francis.

The directory also identifies pharmacy collection locations in communities including Coon Rapids, Blaine, Andover and Fridley.

Availability varies. For example, the county identifies the Lino Lakes Police Department’s collection box as accessible around the clock, while several other law enforcement locations operate during normal weekday business hours.

Confirm What a Location Accepts

Residents should check with their selected collection site about the items they intend to bring, particularly when dealing with liquids, medical devices or sharps.

A prescription medication collection should not automatically be treated as a disposal location for needles or other medical waste.

For the Coon Rapids event, the city has confirmed the Police Department location and the four-hour collection window. Residents seeking another date or location can consult the Anoka County take-back directory or the DEA’s disposal resources.

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