In October of 2021 I had the opportunity to present to all members of the Cerritos City council at the city's public hearing. This was a follow-up of my previous meeting with select city officials and councilmembers in August. At this public hearing, I advocated for the installation of a public medication disposal drop-off box in a city building, as there are currently none in Cerritos. I once again discussed the consequences of improper medication disposal and the benefits of installing a medication disposal bin. In addition, I proposed potential locations for a drop-off box within our city, including the Senior Center.
This past January, a few months after speaking at the public hearing, city officials signed a memorandum regarding the "acquisition of a medication disposal kiosk for the Community Safety Center's lobby". The medication disposal bin is set to be installed within the following months. Cerritos residents and residents of neighboring cities will be able to drop off their unused/expired medications for free once this kiosk is installed. I am excited that my efforts to improve access to proper medication disposal are paying off!
