Free service at Tidelands Health helps community members properly dispose of more than 1,150 pounds of expired medications in 2025

Community members properly disposed of more than 1,150 pounds of expired and unneeded medications in 2025 through a free drop-off service at Tidelands Health. 

The amount of prescription and over-the-counter medications collected in the secure MedDrop containers increased by more than 200 pounds from 2024. Tidelands Health started offering the free service in mid-2023 to meet a growing community need for proper medication disposal year-round. 

The MedDrop collection containers, available every day of the week for community members, are near the main entrances at Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital and Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet. 

“Our free medication disposal service continues to grow as more people learn about the MedDrop containers and want to properly dispose of the medications they no longer need,” said Kelly Edwards, pharmacy director at Tidelands Health. “Tidelands Health is proud to offer this free service to our community, and we applaud those using the MedDrop containers for responsibly getting rid of those unneeded medications.”

Residents can drop off their prescription and OTC meds at containers located near the entrances of Tidelands Hospitals in the area.

Proper disposal helps keep medications from falling into the hands of those who may abuse them and prevents potential environmental contamination through improper disposal in drains.  

Medications collected in the MedDrop containers are sent to Stericycle, a medical waste management company, for proper disposal. 

Prescription and over-the-counter medications are accepted. If you plan to use the MedDrop containers, remember: 

·         All medications should be contained in a sealed bottle or jar, especially liquids, creams and ointments.  

·         Remove or obscure any personally identifiable information.  

·         For safety reasons, the containers cannot accommodate medications with any needles, sharps, aerosols or batteries. 

·         MedDrop containers are available near the main entrance of Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital, 606 Black River Road, and Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, 4070 Highway 17 South in Murrells Inlet. 

About Tidelands Health 

Tidelands Health, in collaboration with MUSC Health, is the region’s largest health care provider, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 70 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners work side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region – promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.