Catasauqua and Whitehall Township police departments discarded a total of 160.5 pounds of medications during the sixth annual National Take Back Day April 27.

Whitehall collected 126.5 pounds and Catasauqua collected the rest.

At 17 locations throughout Lehigh County, residents discarded a record 1,557.5 pounds of expired, unwanted and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications. The Target store on Airport Road, Hanover Township, Lehigh County, also discarded 77 pounds of medications.

That brings the total amount collected in Lehigh County during the last six events to 4,826 pounds.

The collection was coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office, Lehigh County police departments, Pennsylvania State Police and the Allentown Health Bureau.

"I want to thank the public for making this event a success and helping to protect your families and your environment by appropriately disposing of medications," said Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin.

"I also want to thank all the police departments and employees of the Allentown Health Bureau who manned the sites, the media for helping us to publicize this worthwhile event, and members of crime watch and neighborhood watch groups who circulated information about the event in their communities. Without all of them, and the cooperation of other participants, such as Giant food stores, Walgreens, the Westgate Mall, South Mall, Target and municipalities, this event would not have been such a success."

At the sites, residents discarded everything from chemotherapy drugs for seriously ill family members to medications for children's ear infections and pet medications.

Police reported that some people had medications in their homes for years and were grateful for the opportunity to dispose of it in a safe way.

The DEA visited all sites after the event to collect the boxes, which will be taken to an incinerator to be burned.