Coalisland drugs disposal bin moved after no deposits made

A RAPID drug disposal bin has been moved from the Springisland Supermarket site in Coalisland to Newell Stores – also in the town – as no drugs had been deposited in the container to date.

RAPID, which stands for ‘Remove All Prescription and Illegal Drugs’, is a community safety initiative between Mid Ulster Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), the PSNI, the Public Health Agency and the Drug and Alcohol Co-ordination teams.

The initiative is designed to promote the removal of all prescription medication, illegal drugs and new psychoactive substances from the community.

The service is completely anonymous and anyone can use the bin to safely dispose of unused or out-of-date medicines and illegal drugs.

The disposal bins are emptied regularly and the drugs destroyed.

The RAPID bin has been moved to Newell Stores at the request of Mid Ulster Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).

According to Mid Ulster PCSP, the RAPID bin in Coalisland is the only one not receiving deposits of drugs, hence the decision to move it to a better location, with the hope that it will be used.

Cllr Malachy Quinn has asked for the RAPID scheme to be be given more publicity.

The SDLP representative said, “We mentioned the RAPID bin being moved from Springisland supermarket in Coalisland to Newell Stores.

“I’m just asking if we can maybe promote that a bit more than it is, because there’s not too many people who would even know what a RAPID bin is, never mind that it was located at the supermarket.

“Getting a bit more publicity over that I think might help people that would avail of that service.”

Cllr John McNamee confirmed that Mid Ulster District Council officers will be liaising with Mid Ulster PCSP to promote the scheme.