MARIETTA — Law enforcement, businesses and other groups are teaming up again to help residents properly dispose of unneeded prescription drugs.

The second of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency’s biannual National Prescription Take Back Days is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, with a variety of local collection sites.

Proper disposal of medication is a safety issue, said Cathy Harper, on behalf of The Right Path for Washington County, a community group promoting healthy youth development and anti-drug abuse efforts.

“Drugs can be stolen and sold illegally; children and pets could be poisoned if they find and swallow drugs; and unused medications are environmental toxins, as flushing them down the toilet or sink can contaminate our water and soil,” she said via email.

The Marietta Police Department and volunteers will be manning a collection point at the Walmart Pharmacy entrance in Marietta.

Medications can be dropped off anonymously and people do not have to remove labels from empty bottles, Harper said. All medications will be accepted, but syringes must be in sharps containers or coffee cans, she said.

Not every Take Back location accepts syringes and needles, so people might need to check with the agency in advance.

The Vienna and Parkersburg Police Departments have medication drop-off boxes available year-round. But Vienna Police Chief Mike Pifer said there’s usually a sizable turnout for the designated Take Back Days.

“It’s huge. We take in a lot of items,” he said.

Vienna will offer free Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal System pouches at its event at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, Pifer said. They use granular activated carbon to bind to the active ingredients in medications, rendering them unusable and disposable.

More information on the Take Back Day and a list of sites can be found online at www.dea.gov/takebackday.

Other local sites include:

Wood County

* Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department, 1340 Harris Highway, Parkersburg.

* Mineral Wells Volunteer Fire Department, 1695 Elizabeth Pike, Mineral Wells.

* Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 604 29th St., Vienna.

* Waverly Volunteer Fire Department, 15425 Emerson Ave., Waverly.

Washington County

* Walmart Pharmacy entrance, 804 Pike St., Marietta.

Doddridge County

* Doddridge County Sheriff’s Department, 1117 West Virginia 18, West Union.

* West Union Town Hall, 178 Court St., West Union.

Jackson County

* Ripley Police Department, 635 W. Main St., Ripley.

Pleasants County

* Phillips Pharmacy, 329 Second St., St. Marys.

Wirt County

* Wirt County Sheriff’s Department, 15 Court St., Elizabeth.

Noble County

* Caldwell Food Center Emporium, 110 Olive St., Caldwell.