The Forsyth Police Department is taking a more proactive approach in dealing with unused medication.

Police Chief Keith Corley showed off a freshly painted, red postal box, however this drop box is not for mail, though it serves a purpose that is just as important.

"Collecting unwanted, expired, and unused prescription medication," said Corley.

Corley contacted the DEA to offer citizens a way to properly dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs rather than flushing it down the toilet or pouring it into a sink.

"It's not water soluble and it's getting into our drinking water," he said. "A lot of municipal drinking water has been testing positive for substances such as estrogen."

"It's really a bright idea, great idea," exclaimed Jep Castleberry.

Castleberry is a pharmacist and sponsored the box because he says there is a ton of waste when it comes to mail order pharmacy.

"These bulk supplies, and patients either can't take the medication or the doctors have discontinued the medication," said Castleberry. "They don't know what to do with them."

Before this drop box, Castleberry said he accepted unwanted prescriptions and paid for their disposal himself. Now, customers can rest assured that they are doing the right thing with their unused pills.

"They now know they have a safe place to go, it's not hurting the environment and it's actually a DEA approved program."

But he's not telling anyone to stop bringing their medicine to him.

"They can still bring them by our store if they want to."

Where Castleberry he will do whats needed. That means instead of flowing in the water system, the medicine will be disposed of properly.

The drop box is under video surveillance and will be emptied twice a day.

The DEA will hold its 4th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on September 29. The DEA estimates that by the end of its fourth holiday, they will have taken more than 1.5 million pounds of prescription drugs will be off the streets.