(MSC News)--Prescription drugs must be disposed of safely and properly.

That's the reason behind National Drug Take Back Day, planned for Saturday, as local area law enforcement agencies partner with the Drug Enforcement Agency, to allow safe disposal of such medications.

All on-site drop-off locations will be held from 10 until 2:00.

Taking part in the program has become a tradition for the Atchison County Sheriff's Department, with deputies to be on-site at the Atchison WalMart, with all varieties of prescription drugs to be accepted for disposal.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie told MSC News that keeps the drugs from falling into either the wrong hands, or being disposed of in environmentally unfriendly ways. “It's been successful every time, the amount of prescription drugs that we get each time,” Laurie said, adding that those who can’t make it to WalMart can dispose of unwanted drugs anytime at his office, as well as at other Atchison locations. “We have a drop box here at the Sheriff's Office, in the lobby, that anybody can come in and drop that medication off at any time, even after hours. Live Well, Live Atchison also has placed boxes throughout the community and they have a few different locations that they accept medication as well.”

The Brown County Sheriff's Department will again join in the effort, conducting collections at the Sheriff's Office located at 709 Utah Street in Hiawatha.  

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant told MSC News his department has taken part since the program was established in 2010, and has also expanded to collect drugs anytime throughout the year. “We encourage the public at any time to bring their medications to us at 709 Utah Street in Hiawatha. Dispatchers are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to accept the medications. We cannot accept needles/syringes or injectable medications.”

Numerous other agencies from across the local area will join law enforcement nationwide in taking part in the event.

That includes the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office in Seneca and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Holton.

Two locations are planned in Leavenworth,one at Price Chopper and the other at CVS Pharmacy.

To see a complete list of locations, go here.